SERVICE IN CRISIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 14

SERVICE IN CRISIS

TRIBUTE TO MR. COATESj YOUNGER BUSINESS MEN "COURAGE AND HONESTY" j QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP | i [BY TF.I.F.CUAPH — SPECIAL REPORTER! j WELLINGTON, Friday Expressions of goodwill and appre- j ciation of his public service, partici-| larlv during the past four years, were i conveyed to the Minister of Finance. S Mr. Coates, by a representative WeM-j ington gathering, composed mainly of young business and professional men. which waited on him in his olliw at Parliament House this evening. The gathering, which numbered about <O. presented the Minister with a gold cigarette case on which was engraved his initials in monogram form, as v»eL as the following inscription: "The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, P.C., M.C. From some of the younger business men of Wellington for good leadership, hacked bv courage, during a national crisis. Acted For The Best In asking Mr. Coates to accept the i gift. Mr. Frank Campbell said the deputation included different shades of ! political opinion. "We are not here to i say whether we agree with all that has been done during the past four years, hut we are unanimous in the opinion 1 that Mr. Coates has carried out his job in the way he and his colleagues thought best for New Zealand," said Mr. Campbell, amid applause. " The ; ways he has had to choose have not been always the most popular—which : I think he must have often realised | when he read and heard some of the ■ endearing names and terms that have • been used about him. "However, we know Mr. Coates os , a good sportsman, who realises ft is all in the game. But now the shout- | ing and the tumult is over we are here to thank him, not for what he ! has done to us, or how he did it, but for doing what he considered was the ! best as he saw it." i Respect of Country Earned Mr. J. D. McMillan said that during an exacting period Mr. Coates had acted with evident honesty of purpose, with boldness, yet with a sense of responsibility and, above all, with courage when courage was most needed. There was a growing realisation throughout New Zealand that Mr. Coates had earned a full right to the respect of the country.

Captain M. E. Galloway said no political partisanship was attached to the gathering. He paid a tribute to Mr. Coates' work, and to Mrs. Coates for the assistance she was known to have given her husband.

"i do not know how to express my deep appreciation of your action in coming to me to-day with such cordial expressions of goodwill," said Mr. Coates "Sometimes of late my colleagues and I, when we have been wrestling with some difficult problem, have thought of going out and searching for a supporter, and if we could find one putting him in the National Museum. It is true that the past four years have been troublous and it is not to be wondered at that they have been anxious times for those of us responsible for the government of the country. Loyal Co-operation o! Colleagues "Often the clouds have been black nml the outlook gloomy, but the road has been made easier because of the courageous spirit of our people in adversity, and because the Government lias been able to work consistently on a carefully-prepared plan of policy. The load has been lightened by the enroll rasro merit of friends and the loyal co-operation of colleagues. "i take your expression of goodwill not only to myself, but also to my friend, the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, to my colleagues in the Cabinet, and members of the Government who have shared in the responsibility for decisions. On this occasion, too. it is not unfitting to thank my friends of the Opposition who have performed the useful service of exercising the democratic right of criticism. Incentive to Renewed Eflort "Nor can I overlook the officers of the Government who have loyally thought and worked in the interests of the people, and my own personal staff, who have toiled unceasingly. It is natural that the measures necessitated bv the crisis should sometimes have aroused criticism. Of that I need say little, for democracy without criticism is dead "I thank you mo*t sincerely for the thought which prompted your coming and for this handsome gift, which 1 shall always treasure." unid Mr. Coates in concluding. "I am glad that you have joined the name of Mrs. Coates with mine on this occasion for the job has been made easier by having one to share equally in its joys and sorrows. No man could havo had a more loyal and helpful partner. Your action has been a tremendous incentive to me to push forward my efforts, not only to get back in my own electorate, but also to explain to the country what we think is not a bad job of work."