MR COATES’ BATMAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVi, 30 October 1925, Page 7

MR COATES’ BATMAN

happy te kith .meeting ENTHUSIASTIC SOLDIERS TRIUMPHAL I RIVE IN UII ' REV T:i,' Prim- MuiisUv has a ‘.•digger;’ oo;;: ,th;« King Country. Although Mr L ,Mi‘o h.«.s risen high command and his pal holds a not very exalted position in the railway service the alter! ion wliieh grew nut ot their long associal inn in tin* USU . 1 and sincere tn da\ as ever. As .Major Coates, the Prime Minister had a hatman who served him through thick and thin, and in his own words was as faithful and loyal a pat as one could wish. It, is sufficient to know that his Christian name is I,nitric, for lie is a modest young man. The Prime Minister spent a joyous two hours with the returned soldiers ot the King Country at Te Kuiti on Saturday night, when the men entertained him at- a complimentary social after ins I olitical address. Soldiers came in from all parts of tile district. I.auric among them, and when the gathering was called to order by the chairman, Mr 11. ’l. Morton, president of the To Kuiti Returned Soldiers' Association, there were almost, two hundred men present. The utmost good-fellowship and camaraderie prevailed, as was to be expected from men who had / endured hardships and faced death together. There, was nothing stereotyped about the gathering. The formal toasts, exee|)t those of "The King.’’ and "Our Guest." were, dispensed with, and others such as "Army Nuisances" —insects, adjutants. mud and brass hats—and "Paris Leave,’’ gave, scope for many a witty story. Nothing dreary or objectionable was' possible, any likely offender being drowned out by the chorus, "Old .Soldiers Never Die, They Simply Fade "A MAN THROUGH AND THROUGH" A!! ranks paid tribute to the Prime

Minister’s qualities as a leader, but it was Laurie’s meed of praise that appealed to all. "I want to say that although be is Prime Minister, and l .hope be will remain that For many years. I wish, him the best of luck, for lie is a man through and through.” Tin’s was instantly endorsed by the gathering, and Laurie went on to sav that, if any man in the room had a genuine complaint he could go right to the ton o-f the tree and he would get the same treatment as the biggest squatter in the land.

Ho readied many incidents in his association with his major and one of them was eloquent. They were, he said, marching up to Passchondaolo. about three miles ahead, and lie was packing rations on his hack. At the end of the first mile the pack seemed like a ton and lie exclaimed ” the rations," lie lip threw them down. His chief undertook to carry them, ‘‘and he did for tlie other two miles." added the former batman with a fond grin at the guest. Lieutenant-Colonel C. Dick, who sat on the Prime Minister's right, remarked that, ah officer was never a hero to his batman and he believed that Mr Coates would never receive a better tribute than tiiat just paid to him. "I did not know 1 was half the ‘bloke’ you say 1 am," was the Prime Minister s opening remark in replying. He went on to say how much he appreciated his welcome, although he had not deserved half of it. "Laurie and I have been particular personal friends from file day we met. I think the term should lie comrades, and long may it he so. ' He retailed many stories of campaigning days, and invariably appealoil to Laurie for confirmation. Support was always forthcoming, always briefly, such as "Right, sir." or "Too true.” and in a manner that challenged contradiction. SUCECSSFUL ■ DRAGOM A N S Mr Coates spoke of the quality of the 'lien of the New Zealand Expeditionary i'orees, and said it was entirely due to them that- so much had been accomplished, for it was impossible to get. anywhere without the goodwill and cooperation of the men. It was to these Men that we owed our present, freedom, and the spirit that animated these men would enable New Zealand to maintain Hie highest ideals. He made brief referenc to the lat e General Melville, who, he said, seemed to understand men and got, the best out of them. ‘‘l think we have lost- a man who would have made good in New Zealand to a remarkable degree,” lie concluded. Tlie men insisted in escorting tne guest to his “dug-out/ ’and for the next ten minutes tlie streets of Te Kuiti presented n, sight that will not easily he forgotten. The incident recalled familiar scenes in the streets of Cairo.

A farmer’s buggy with a pair of horses, on e of them a white, had been i ommandeered, and two of the returned men, asuming the parts of dragomans, implored the Prime Minister to patronise tfieir gharry. “White horse very good sir—nenak—nenak,” they cried. Mr Coates entered into the spirt-i of the tiling and took his seat beside tlie driver, and tlie idea at once tooic on. As tlie conveyance moved along, the 200 diggers followed, making the night .hideous’ 1 with the cries of the beggars and vendors of Cairo. “Baksheesh, Baksheesh,” was pleaded on all sick's. Egypt Mail and Times—very good news,” “Tomatoes, big ones, oranges four for a-ha’lf,” "eggs-a-cook,” were some of the cries that could be distinguished out of the din that disturbed the peaceful town. Finally the procession reached Mr Coates’ hotel, and the gharry pulled up on the footpath* under the verandah Giat shelters the entrance. Here the i rime Minister was able to make his escape, and he was no doubt glad to acknowledge the vociferous farewells and get of! to bed after one of his most strenuous days.