MR. COATES PRAISED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18412, 30 May 1923, Page 8

MR. COATES PRAISED.

LIBERAL MEMBER'S EULOGY, "LIVED UP TO HIS'TASK.". ADMINISTRATION OF WORKS -SSS Tbt TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION "J CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday/ The '-Minister'.'. for Public Works th* I Hon. J. G. Coates, who has been visiting the flooded areas of North Canterbury and Kaikoura districts, returned to Christchurch this afternoon and proceeded to ' ' Wellington. .■■*■• ■..' .'j,: In the course of a speech at a banquet tendered to Mr. Coates at Kaikoura Mr G. W. Forbes, P., said he knew o r no Minister who went to greater trouble than Mr. Coates to ascertain the true position of affairs. Ho had striven earnestly to live up to the spirit of his im. portent position of Public Works Minister. From the Public Works view-point Mr. Coates had made good in politics and his work was being appreciated. Pariia- '-."•'.-' ment did not want to see " duffers "-; i n 7, the Ministry. They wanted to see Minis, ters carry out their work well without muddling and carry out the work from 4 national point of view. Party bias had never held sway with Mr. Coates. On his return to Christchurch to-night Mr. Coates said it would cost £6000 to ..v £7000 to repair flood damage in th© Amuri County and £4000 to £5000 i n , * : Cheviot County. What tho cost would | be in Kaikoura County he could not est], I mate, but it would take £5000 to restore | the protective works of the Kaikoura >*'."•: River Board to the condition in which ; ; they were prior to the flood. In his opinion it would take six months to restore bridges and approaches on the Kai-koura-Christchurch Road. ■ ;<