DAMP GREETING

Evening Star, Issue 21519, 18 September 1933, Page 1

DAMP GREETING

MR COATES TAKES A DUCKING [Special to the ‘ Star.’] : WELLINGTON, September 17. The members of the Ministry and a! number of friends who ventured out in the Government steamer, Janio Seddon to welcome the Prime Minister and the returning conference dele- : gation had quite a lively experience.The great majority of the party had eventually to adopt the commonplace method of boarding the mail steamer,. Makura by the gangway from the wharf, because transfer from the tender to the steamer in mid-harbour became too risky. A heavy northerly wind had raised a confused sea in the harbour, and the Makura’s Captain decided not to anchor, but to drift slowly while taking the inspecting medical officer;; aboard. This official briskly clambered on to the steamer’s gangway, several feet up in the air, and in dua course gave permission for the remainder of the party to follow. They, gathered in approximate order of preoedemce, Captain Tweedy, in Highland regimentals, leading the way to tender a welcome on. behalf of tha Governor-General. He remained at' the foot of the gangway to assist the others. By this time the full force of the weather was being experienced, and Captain Tweedy became drenched with spray. Mrs Coates courageously faced the situation, and managed toget aboard the Makura, but Me Coates, who followed, was drenched by a heavy wave breaking between the two steamers, and flying up in a. cascade of foam. He greeted his returning colleagues cheerfully, but was wet through. _ However, resourceful friends gave him a change of clothing, and he subsequently faced the cameras in the steamer’s social hall, quite ■* spruce' in borrowed plumes. Except for a comprehensive prepared statement from the Prime Minister, all members of the party were unanimous in decliihg to express opinions on the trip. Not even on the- tempting subject of the American reconstruction efforts could the economists—Professor Tocker and Dr Campbell— be got to talk.When your correspondent called the Prime Minister’s attention to the fact that , his statement included no reference to efforts to effect loan conversion in Britain, Mr Eorbes replied that he did not care to mention so delicate a matter except after careful conjMlpration of his words. . A brief chat with Mr lorns, chairman of the Dairy Board, who also returned, was confined to his statement that butter prices were becoming cheering. , . . “As soon as^, you -left, laughingly ■commented- a friend,-whowas promptly corrected Mr lorns pointing out that the rise commenced while he was m London.