"DARK CLOUDS"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 6 May 1926, Page 8

"DARK CLOUDS"

WITH TROUBLE IN THE AIR

THE PEIME MINISTER'S NOTE Of

WABNING.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, sth May,

A note of high optimum regarding the crisis at Home wag struck by the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. J. G. Coates) at the complimentary banquet tendered last night to Sir Hetton Rhodes. "When there is trouble in the air,'' said Mr. Coates, "and dark <:louds arc on the horizon, tho nsi';-1 *'• •■ •' •"■>• f'.o Government to get most of tK§ kicks and blame. T..,..j i.... fgurehead at which to diveta [lUiilic opinion; people must havo some human being on whom to vent their feelings. New Zealand is a wonderful country with! a wonderful people, but we all must recognise that tho other fellow's troubles are our troubles. People know of this country's prosperity, its productivity, and its ability to face and overcome difficulties. It has had a prosperous year. I believe there is a surplus o£ from £1,100,000 to £1,240,----000. "There are dark clouds on the horizon," proceeded Mr. Coates, "and! no doubt they will be taken advantage of by those who disagree with the Govornment's policy of development, administration, and government. People will preach that if they have another Government things will be different. We expect criticism, but difficulties and hurdles show what people aTe made of. When troubles come they must be met in a common-sense way, but we object to the propagation of a creed born in the centre of a country which we do not know, and which does not know our community and its ideals. The Government will.do all it en to put down ideals and creeds foreign to our country." Mr. Coates said that the country would do its best to exclude that propaganda and those ideals which were foreign to it, and to any truly British community.v Within the past few days thousands of people had prayed that th: trouble ia Great Britain would be averted. It was a heavy load. Whether or not a solution was to be found at once, he had faith in human nature and the British people. Successive Governments at Home had done their beat to meet this'and similar situations. They had tried to be fair and humane ti their fellow-men, apart from politics, and he thought tho British Government was trying to do its best in one of the most difficult situations which had arisen. Tlje best .sense of ; people would find a solution, and the people would stand true to the ideals of centuries. Difficulties could be avoided by mediation and arbitration, and he hoped tho difficulties met would bo faced with credit, and that the Empire, with its wonderful heritage, would still go on in its work of bringing peaco afid understanding among the peoples of the world.