PRPRIME MINISTER’S FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12161, 11 June 1925, Page 7

PRPRIME MINISTER’S FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH

MR COATES’S WONDERFUL RECEPTION AT DANNEVIRKE NEW LEADER EXPOUNDS THE GOSPEL OF WORK DISCLAIMS MUCH KNOWLEDGE OF POLITICAL FINESSE By Telegraph—“ Times” Special Reporter. DANNEVIRKE, June 10. The Hon. J. G. Coates made his first public appearance as Prime Minister to-day, when he was present at the official switching on of Dannevirke’s new hydro-electric power. Mr Coates was given a reception that was hearty to a degree, and in his speeches he made it clear that his gospel was work, not words. It is bare justice to Mr Coates to say that his first speech in his new capacity created a wonderful impression.

Mr Coates, who was accompanied by Mrs Coatee, was met at the Dannevirke Railway Station by a very largo crowd, and the welcome extended to him was one he can well feel proud of. The welcome of the people was well spoken bv Mr A. J. C. Runciman, Mavor of the town, who said: “On behalf of the residents of this district I have pleasure in to you, as Prime Minister of the Dominion, a hearty welcome to Dannevirke. It is gratifying to us that your first official visit since vour accession to that high office should be to our town. We are pleased that you could find time in the midst of vour multifarious activities and engagements to come here on what is an important occasion in the life of our town. I wish, on behalf of the people of Dannevirke, to congratulate vou on vour election to the office of Prime Minister which, apart from that of the representative of His Majesty, is the highest honour in the Dominion. Although this office has been conferred on vou through your colleagues in the Government of New Zealand. I feel sure that tho people of this couptry, of every shade of political opinion, feel that a judicious relection has been made. Your political career and your wise administration ol the departments which you have controlled as a Minister of the Grown have merited your elevation to tho highest office to which you could bo elected. “A WORTHY SUCCESSOR” “Tn you we recognise a worthy successor to the illustrious statesman whose loss the people of this Dominion atill mourn. It is also most pleasing to all New Zealanders that the Prime Minister of our fair land should be a son of Now .Zealand, and the name ef J. G. Coates is a good augury for the progress of Dannevirke. Your last visit here was on the occasion of the opening of our new post office, a public building which is much appreciated by the people of this district, and which will stand as a memorial to your administration of the Post and Telegraphs when we shall all have passed hence. To-day we have another step in the advancement of Dannevirke, the inception of electric power. In the formulating of this great national enterprise you, as Minister for Public Works', have played no small part. We regret that your stay amongst us must be only for a few hours, but we assure you of the genuineness of our welcome, and wo trust that on a future occasion we may have an opportunity of. extending to you greater hospitality than the shortness of timo will permit to-day.” “This,” said Mr Coates, “is the first occasion on which I have had to go through an ordeal of the kind. However, I wish to express my appreciation of the welcome you have given Mrs Coates and myself to-day.” Mr Coates said he regretted the circumstances which had brought about the changes which resulted in his being in Dannevirke in his present capacity. Nevertheless, changes had to come, and it was for those who were left to accept the responsibility. He was certainly heartened by the very fine reception he had been given, and tho very complimentary references which had been made to any little thing he might have been responsible for in the past. COATS OFF It was now, as always, necessary to face the position necessary, and to take coats off and work for the country to see, that it is made the best little country in the world. Their work must le not for any class, but for all classes so os to give every man and every woman in the country proper opportunities. The reception given him that day would help to make the path easier, and assist in giving determination where effort was required. As far os

he was concerned the people would be able to judge him by results and not by a whole lot of words. After the informal reception at the railway station the Prime Minister was taken to the Arcadia which was packed to the doors. Mr Coates entered to the accompaniment of an outburst of applause, which continued for some little time, and there was further applause. The member for the district, Mr E. A. Ransom, described the occasion as a “red letter” day in the history of Dannevirke, for they had with them Mr Ooates who was making his first public appearance as Prime Minister. They fully appreciated the fact that lie had made it convenient to be present despite the fact that he was an extremely busy man. Mr Ransom expressed a wish to be associated with the warm welcome given Mr Coates, and he mentioned that the success of tho hvdro-electric schemes had heen due largely to the’ business ability cf the present Prime Minister. HIS JOB In his reply to the speeches made in the theatre, Mr Coates said that his job from now on covered every phase of existence, and not merely hydroelectricity, which had been the subject of the speakers who had preceded him. It would be his aim and object to lry to do justice to everyone in New Zealand, no matter what the person’s calling in life might be. He wished it to be accepted as an opinion of his own that whatever -structure was built the basis of success was the solid foundation of their finance, and just so sure 03 we could make our different structures carry their own weight, just so sure could we give the benefit of our credit to all the people. Everything had to be paid for, and while the credit might be used for the purpose of establishing and bringing into operation big schemes, which were of value, it was necessary to divorce political humbug tram the prosecution of the country’s developmental works. It was of national importance, and was essential, that‘the best brains should be brought to bear on any big undertaking for the country. It was necessary we should look our problems in the face and say to ourselves, is this in the public interest ? and, if a thing is in the public interest, to survey carefully the whole situation so that when the proposals were actually made they were of a practical nature. When it came to a question of developing of power such as hydro-elec-tricity it was essential they should not be carried away by what people might say from the political aspect, but be guided by what convenience it would give to the country. As far as hydroelectricity was concerned he thought New Zealand owed a debt of gratituae to the politicians. He believed the start was made in Sir Joseph Ward’s time, that it remained for Mr Roderick McKenzie to make the first practical beginning, and that the bulk of the work fell upon Sir William Fraser. That was as far as the politicians were concerned, but the country wanted to remember men like Messrs Hay, Parry, Birks, and Kissell who worked day and night to keep the country on the right lines. He wished to pay a tribute to them. “DON’T EXPECT TOO MUCH” "Don’t expect too much,” said Mr Coates in conclusion. “I have not studied politics as much as some people, have not the finesse' of politics anyhow. bat I trust I will be able to render some service to you, and that you will not have to regret the job being placed on mv shoulders. It will not be for the want of trying if I can’t give a reasonable account of what I think the country requires.” Mr Coates resumed his seat amidst much applause.