GOVERNMENT RESIGNS

Northern Advocate, 5 December 1935, Page 3

GOVERNMENT RESIGNS

“GOOD-BYE, MB FORBES!” PRAISE FOR MINISTRY ' [Special to “Northern Advocate.”'} WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister said good-bye to office yesterday, when the Government resigned. Mr Forbes returned to his office to perform his last official duty as Prime Minister, when he signed a number of letters and other documents. At 6 p.m. he was still busy putting his' name to paper, but he caught the boat for Lyttelton to go back to his Cheviot farm. Members of the personal staff, along with numerous departmental officers and others, went to the wharf to bid him farewell. A farewell was also given to the other retiring Ministers. ' Mr Coates left office yesterday. The late Minister of Finance has always been on the best of terms with the officers of his department, and yesterday he invited them to afternoon tea. Departmental officers and typists and messengers attached to’ his staff made the last calls on him in his Ministerial office. , _ x ~ , In a short speech Mr Coates thanked them all for their loyalty and assistance dfiring the past years. The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr G. C. Rodda, and representatives of the Customs, Taxation, Stamp Duties, and Transport Departments responded individually. They did not touch on politics, but thanked Mr Coates for the way he had treated them all. Just before Mr Coates left his office, one of his most treasured possessions was removed when a frame containing* the first pound note printed for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand was taken down by the late Minister. This is Mr Coates’ personal property, and an interesting relic. The note, which bears the number AOOOOI, was mounted and framed and presented to Mr Coates by the directors of the/ bank.