ONE OF THE DIGGERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 9

ONE OF THE DIGGERS

PRIME MINISTER HONOURED

PRESENTED WITH ASSOCIATION'S

GOLD BADGE

ONE OF THIRTEEN RECIPIENTS.

The returned soldiers of Wellington and «lao visitors from other district associations made a very happy evening of it -whoa they met in the Y.W.O.A. Hall, Boulcott street, last evening to present to tho Eight Hon. J. G.. Coates the gold badge of the Returned Soldiers' Association of New Zealand, and to wish him good fortune and success in his mission as New Zealand's representative at the forthcoming Imperial Conference. ■•' A company of cadets from the. Wellington Technical College, under Captains Barcham and Nimmo, formed a, guard of honour—and made a- very. nice job of it —and the Caledonian SoJ ciety's Pipe Band, under Mr. Comrie Smith, gave the finishing touch to the outside arrangements. Upon' the platform with Colonel G. T. Hall, who presided, and the guest of the evening wore, among others: — The Hon. F. J. Bolleston (Minister of Defence), Sir Heaton Rhodes, Lieut.Colonel Button, General Young, Colonels Samuels, M.P., Burgess, D.5.0., J. G. Hughes, D.5.0., G. Mitchell, H. E. Avery, D.5.0., Symons, D.5.0., Majors Waito, M.P., T. E. Y. Section, M.P.,' lzard, and Messrs. E. Lee, MJ?., J. Mason, M.P., W. S. Glenn, M.P., J. C. Eolleston, M.P., W. J. Jordan, M.P., Tilling, J. Pi. Maxwell, and de Launay. Apologies for unavoidable absence were read from the Governor-General, the Commander of H.M.S. Dunedin, and others.' ■ It was a great privilege to know Mr. Coates in his official capacity, said the Mayor, Mr. C. B. Norwood, but it was A greater privilege to know him personally, and that privilege had especially been given, those who went away, for Mr. Coates was one of them. He and Mrs. Coates were leaving New Zealand shortly to attend the Imperial Conference, and he would carry with him the knowledge that he went with the full confidence of tho people of the Dominion as their representative, to voice New Zealand's attitude in. matters of the welfare of the Empire. (Applause.) A DISTINGUISHED COMPANY. The comradeship of the gold badge of the Now Zealand Association was a small, but a distinguished one, said Colonel Hall, in making the presentation. The badge was the highest honour which the returned men could bestow —it .was the V.C. of the association, and its issue was jealously guarded. There were only twelve holders of the badge, and they included the Prince of Wales, Colonel Freyburg, V.C, and Major-General Sir George Richardson." It was presented only for very distinguished service, and that Mr. Coates had given distinguished service went .without saying. The returned men were proud of hi 3 record on the Met side, but were prouder still of the position to which he had risen since his return fronv Flanders, Mr. Coates had shown in the past that he was deeply interested in the returned men, and they had tangible proof from time to time that he was fulfilling tho promises he had made. Were all other returned men fulfilling those promises which they must have made to standby the chap who was with them on the other side? There was one way only in which they could do that to-day, by keeping their association strong and vigorous.

The returned men, said Colonel Hall, very genuinely appreciated what the Government had done for them, and particularly for those who were suffering disabilities as a result of war service. While all points at issue were not settled they still felt that Parliament would view all qucstion3 from a broad standpoint and deal with them upon a just and equitable basis.

LniES OF COMMUNICATION. ''We trust that your deliberations at the Imperial Conference," continued Colonel Hall, "will further consolidate the vast interests of our far-flung Empire, and as New Zealandera wo fervently hope that our lines of communication will be fully protected by naval bases and that our Navy is kept up to full strength, thereby ensuring the pro-, teetion of our possessions in the Pacific. You will carry to that Conference the spirit of New-Zealand's loyalty, .which is second to none in our Empire, and without which the British Empire could not be the powerful nation it is to-day." Colonel Hall then pinned the gold badge to Mr. Coate3 '3 lapel, with cheers and "He's a Jolly Good Fellow" from the gathering to fit it there more firmly.

A GOOD DIGGER, Mr. W. Perry, a vice-president of the N.Z.R.S.A., in. a happy speech, spoke of the esteem in which Mr. Coates was held by all returned men, not from any political standpoint, but as a digger and a good chap. P(#;sibly Mr. Coates had been able to rise so rapidly in politics as a re-

suit of knowledge gained in France in strategy and tactics; possibly also ho would even yet this session experience what everyone know very well as the "beaucoup : bombard" iv his attempt to amend "the great national pastime of picking 'em," and, secondly, in that measure for tho better, or worse, conduct of "New Zealand's, estimets." (Much laughter.) Mr. Perry referred to the sympathetic manner, in which the Government had always considered the caso of the returned man, but said that there were still things to hope for. He trusted that both Mr. and Mrs. Coates would have an enjoyable as well as an honourable and useful voyage to the Old Country.

AN HONOUR APPRECIATED. The Prime Minister, in reply, said that he most sincerely appreciated the honour that had been conferred upon him, the more so because he saw about him all shades of political opinion. The nation's strength Jay in understanding, and if one understood the man next him he could find plenty to do in helping' on the general good. Colonel Hall and Mr. Perry had been very generous in their remarks, but it was a great encouragement to know that the returned mon were willing to give one a fair go. It was not possible to please everyone— indeed, it wa3 not worth trying; the hardest thing to do was to please oneself, and that he had not yet managed to do. The duty of Parliament to the returned men and to their dependants was not over by a long way, but it would never be wise for the Government to give returned men all they asked, for there would be the end of the U.S.A., and no Government would wish that that should come about. He fully agreed with Colonel Hall that returned men should stick by their association, for that association had had much to do with the bettering of tho returned man's lot. Governments came and Governments went, but whatever Government it was it would bo sympathetic to the returned man. THE CONFERENCE AND UNDERSTANDING. Another war such as the war of 1914-1918 was to be avoided at any

cost but that of honour, continued Mr. Coates. It was in no spirit of jingoism that he was viewing the important subjects that were to be discussed at the Imperial Conference, but with the knowledge that the gathering was to be guided by the highest ideals. There were difficulties in various parts of the Empire, and it was to be an education to get into touch with those various views and to gain an understanding of the problems before the units of thi Empire. Only by complete understanding could the Empire remain united; flag waving would not go far in that respect.

Though the Returned Soldiers' Association was not concerned with politics, said Mr. Coates, it was extremely pleasin,; to see how many returned men wore working in the country's interest. Politically, ho did not agree with some of them, and he had dono his best to keep them out of Parliament, but now that they were in ho was very glad to see them there. (Ap-'ause.) Grvcn determination and the right outlook the peo* pie of New Zealand would carry themselves through difficult times that might arise, and carry the country with them. KEEPING THE WAY OFEN. Tho safeguarding of trade routes would be one of the main questions discussed at the Conference, said Mr. Coates, and though it was perhaps possible that a way might bo found whereby disputes between nations could be settled by arbitration and war ended, yet in tho meantime the Empire must not be caught unpropared, and adoquato defenco must be given tho trade routes and the links between units of tho Empire. j Again he thanked the Wellington Association and New Zealand Association members for the high honour they had conferred upon him. During the evening musical and other I items were givon by Messrs. Wilson Brockenshire, Edwards, Lavin, anc! Marshall.