THE PRIME MINISTER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 December 1928, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER

TRIBUTE TO MR COATES A CLEAN FIGHTER. DIGNEFEEiD TN DEFEAT. fßy T-^iegraph—Preen Association.i WELLINGTON, Dec, 7. In the House ■ of Representatives, when the House resumed at 2.30 p.m. the Speaker reported that together with the mover and seconder of the Address-in-Reply and other members he "had waited upon the Governor-General, who had been pleased to make a suitable reply, concluding: “I fully recognise it is essential my advisers should possess the. confidence of the Hons© of Representatives, and in view of your assurance that they do not possess that confidence I will take measures for the , * formation of a new administration.” 'On the motion of the Prime Minister his Excellency’s- message was ordered to be recorded in the jodrnals of the House.

The Prime Minister said that in view of the decision arrived at by the House it would be his duty to tender the resignation -of his Government to the Governor-General, and that course he proposed to take just as soon as it was convenient to his Excellency. 'Sir Joseph Ward said that on behalf of the United Party he wanted to express his appreciation of the kindly offer made by Mr Coates in the course of a very good speech. He thought the whole House would recognise the difficulties and the position in which Mr Coates was placed. Such a thing came to' everybody who was in politics for a long time.. and it was a source of gratification that Mr Coates should, on probably the last occasion he held the position lie had occupied so honourably, express such kindly sentiments as he had done.

Sir Joseph added that some time after the House reassembled he would make a statement on some important matters. He was not going to say anything further at that stage. At the moment he felt he was unable to say whether another session would be necessary. He wanted to avoid it in the interests of the House and of the country, and he hoped when he was in a position to speak with authority to be able to make a proposal regarding his $ policy and how he proposed to act. LABOUR- LEADER’S TRIBUTE

Mr H. E. Holland, leader of the Lab>otfr Party, also paid a tribute to Mr Coates as a clean fighter. “We have had to fight and we fought with the gloves off,” said Mr Holland. ‘‘Every fighter likes another fighter, and when the scrap is over friendships remain the same. I want to express my appreciation of every member of the party on these benches, of the manner in which the Prime Minister accepted defeat and lam sure he will forgive me if I say he never appeared to better advantage, even in the moment of his most decisive viet-ory, than in the hour of his defeat to-day.” Mr Holland referred to the dignified manner in which Mr Coates had met the position and the sportsmanlike manner in which he had accepted the decision of the House. The Hon. 'Sir A. Ngata, speaking on behalf of the Maori people, thanked Mr Coates for all he had done in the interests of the Maori people. Has actions would not be lightly thought of in the years to come. |Mr Coates said the remarks made concerning him were most unexpected. He had received so many bricks during recent months that he had not thought he would receive any bouquets across the floor of the House. He would ever remember the kind remarks which had been made. No doubt they would cross swords in the future, but they could always look forward to the fact that whatever they did in the House was not allowed to interfere with their friendships outside. If the attitude he had taken up was beyond expectations he was more than gratified because, judging by the speeches made during the campaign, he had thought he was a long way below expectations. Mr Coates said he was very much touched by the kind remarks. He paid a tribute to the assistance which he had received at all times from Sir .A. Ngata. •On Tuesday, concluded Mr Coates, he would like to have an opportunity of making a short statement as to the attitude the Reform Party would take up in regard to Sir Joseph Ward’s administration. The House adjourned at 2.35 p.m. on Tuesday. A meeting of Reform members was held after the adjournment. A resolution was unanimously passed recording the highest appreciation of the dignified, manly and statesmanlike speech delivered by Mr Coates. It was felt that the speech was the finest effort Mr Coates had made since’ he assumed the leadership of the < party. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day, and after a motion had been passed on the same lines as that in the House of Representatives, expressed sympathy with the King in his illness, the Council rose until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.