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Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 195, 20 August 1935, Page 7

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Reception to Prime Minister

MR COATES’ INVALUABLE WORK

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug, 19. The Prime Minister, Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes, accompanied by Mrs Forbes and Mr Jeffrey, his private Secretary', returned to-day by the Marama. They were warmly welcomed on hoard by Ministers of tho Crown, heads of the Departments and personal friends.

Soon after arrival, flight Hon. Mr Forbes and Eight Hon. Mr Coates were tendered an official reception by the Wellington Harbour Board. The Chairman, Mr T. Pi. Barrer, paid tribute to the work the two leaders had accomplished iu London.

Sir Alfred Ransom, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, welcomed the leaders. He remarked that they were returning at a time when New Zealand was recovering to some extent from the difficulties of the past few years. Mr Forbes, in replying, expressed pleasure at his return and briefly outlined the Jubilee celebrations. Regarding the meat negotiations he paid tribute to Mr Coates, saying that his work had been invaluable. Mr Coates expressed satisfaction at the result of the meat negotiations and referred to the improvement in trade which had taken place in Great Britain. The future, he said, was bright with one possible exception, namely the Abyssinian difficulty. It would be disastrous if the general improvement, which was noticeable, was checked by International complications. LoytUty of Londoners WELLINGTON, Aug. .19. The value of the closest possible contact between various parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations was stressed by Hon. G. A. Forbes on his arrival at Wellington to-day from the King’s Silver Jubilee celebrations and Empire Economic Conference. Mr. Forbes said tho homage paid to the King and Queen was a wonderful illustration of tho deep and abiding affection which the people have for their Sovereign. Londoners were i?i closer contact with the King than any other people of the Empire and their demonstrations of fervent loyalty were spontaneous and unprecedented, and they made one realise the preeminent and noblo part which the King played in unifying the British Empire into the world force that it was today. Visit to Research Stations. Mr Forbes said lie had visited a number of research stations and gained much valuable information about the problems and solutions of which our producers and industrialists are endeavouring to find. The experiments in coal carbonisation and hydrogenation made one realise that the future of coal is much brighter than it was a few years ago. Mr. Forbes also visited Yorkshire and met the committee of the British Wool Federation and discussed fully the position of the New Zealand wool trade with Bradford and the suitability of the New Zealandmade wool pack. The Committee showed a keen desiro to assist in further developments of tho trade. There was no doubt, ho said, that Britain to-day stands iu tho forefront of Nations and is tho envy of most of the other nations of the world. She has achieved stability while many other nations are still groping for panaceas and she was in a position to take advantage of the .upward trend of industry and trade.

Result of Meat Negotiations. "New Zealand has every reason to feel satisfied with the result of the meat negotiations which look place iu England,” said (lie Prime -Minister, Rl. Hon. Forbes, on his arrival in Wellington this morning. "I am satisfied that, we received every consideration from the United Kingdom Ministers during the discussions aud that they were perfectly fair iu all dealings with us aud endeavoured to meet tho position as far as practicable, having regard to their obligations under the treaties with other countries and the interests of their own farmers. I am convinced they are anxious to do everything possible to facilitate a mutually satisfactory conclusion to the negotiations and that they would have, liked to have gouo further in this, direction, but for the existcnco of those treaties. I confidently believe as a result of the impressions I gained when in England of the very strong feeling of friendship towards the Dominions that exists there, that we have nothing to fear as to tho treatment wo will receive from the United Kingdom Government when the present treaties and agreements expire.”

Tribute to Mr Coates. The Prime Minister paid a tribute to the Hon. J. G. Coates for the satisfactory manner in which the negotiations were, concluded and stated that from his knowledge of the position it was no easy task Mr. Coates had performed. Ho also referred to the assistance given during the negotiations by Messrs T. A. Duncan and J. Fraser, chairman and general manager respectively of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. In fact, the Board’s representatives had concurred in the arrangements which should gi v ° weight to the claim that New Zealand had cause for satisfaction with what has been achieved.

Primary Producers Relieved. Mr. Forbes also expressed the view that primary producers no doubt would feel greatly relieved that tho fears of tho severely curtailed imports of meat into the United Kingdom and the possibility of a levy on mutton and lamb had been swept away by tho arrangements which had been, made and it should give heart to the farming community whoso prospects of getting out of their difficulties were at one time so much overshadowed by what might, happen,. their, main market,