THE PRIME MINISTER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19503, 11 June 1925, Page 10

THE PRIME MINISTER

FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH. DANNEVIRKE’S WARM WELCOME. MR COATES’S GOSPEL. WORK, NOT WORDS. (From Opk Own Correspondent.) LEVIN, June 10. The Hon. J. G. Coates made his first public appearance as Prime Minister today, when he was present at the official switching on of DamievirUe’s now hytlroelectric power. Mr Coates was given a reception that, was hearty to a degree, and in his speeches he made ii 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 Coates, was mot at the Dannevirko Kailway Station by a very large crowd, and the welcome extended to him was one of which ho can well feel proud. The welcome of the people was well spoken of by Mr A. J. C. Runciman (Mayor of the town), who said; “On behalf of the residents of this district I have pleasure in extending to you as Prime Minister of the dominion a hearty welcome to Dannevirke. It is gratifying to us that your first official visit since your accession to that high office should bo to our town, and we are pleased that you could find time in tho midst of your multifarious activities and engagements to come here on what is an important docasion in tho life of our town: I wish, on behalf of the people of Dannevirke, to congratulate you on your election to tho office of Prime Minister, which, apart from that of representative of his Majesty, is the highest, honour in the dominion. Although this office has been conferred an you through your colleagues in the Government of New Zealand, I feel sure that the people of this country of every shade of political opinion feel that a judicious selection has been made. Your political career and your wise administration of tho departments which you have controlled as a Minister of the Crown have merited your elevation to tho highest office to which you could bo elected. In you we recognise a worthy successor to the illustrious statesman whose loss the people of this dominion still mourn. It is also most _ pleasing to all Now Zealanders that the Prime Minister ol our fair land should bo a son of New Zealand. The name of J. G. Coates is a good augury tor tho 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 ns a memorial to your administration of the Post and Telegraphs when we shall all have passed hence. To-dny wo have made another step in the advance of Dannevirko —the inception of electric power, and in the formulating of this great national enterprise you, as Minister of Public Works, have played no small part. Wc .regret that your stay amongst us must be only for a few hours, but we assure you of the genuiness of our welcome, and wo trust that on a future occasion wo may have, an opportunity of extending to you greater hospitality than the shortness of time will permit to-day.” “ This,” said Mr Coates. “is the first occasion on which I have had to go through an odeal of tho kind. However, I wish to express my appreciation of tho welcome you have givcq 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. Novertho less, changes had to come, and it was for those who were left, to accept tho responsibility. lie was certainly heartened hy the very fine reception he bad been given and the 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 to take coats ■off, and work for tho country to see that it w made the best little country in the world. Their work must be not for any class, but for all classes, so as 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 whore effort was recuired. and, as far as he was concerned, the people would be able to judge him by results and not by a whole lot of words. A RED LETTER DAY. After tho informal reception at the railway station, tho Priirie Minister was taken to the Arcadia, which was packed to tho doors. Mr Coates entered to the accompaniment of an outburst of applause, which continued for some little time, and there was further applause. Tho 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 Coates, who was making his first public appearance ns Prime Ministoh. They fully appreciated the fact that he had made it convenient to fie present, despite the fact that ho 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 hydroelectric schemes had been due largely to the, business ability of the present Prime Minister. ms 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, not merely hydro-electricity, which had beon the subject of the speakers who had preceded him. It would be his aim and object to try to do justice to everyone in New Zealand, no matter what the person’s calling in life might be. He wished it to bo accepted as an opinion of his own that whatever structure was built tho basis of success was the solid foundation of their finance, and just, so sure as 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 bo used for the purpose of tho establishment .and tho bringing into operation of big schemes which were of value, it was necessary to divorce political humbug from tho prosecution of the country’s developmental works. It was of national importance and was essential that the best brains should bo brought io boar on any big undertaking for the country. FACING PROBLEMS. It was necessary that we should look our problems in the face and say to ourselves: “Is this in the public interest?” And if a thing ; s in the public interest to survey carefully the whole situation so that when the proposals wore actually made they wore of a practical value. When it came to a question of the developing of power such as hydro-electricity it was essential they should not be carried away by what people might say from the political aspect, but bo guided by what convenience it. would give to the country. As far as hydro-electricity was concerned he thought New Zealand owed a debt of gratitude to the politicians. lie believed the stall was made in Sir Joseph Ward’s time, .that it remained for Mr Roderick MTCeiizie to make the first practical beginning, and that the bulk of the work fell upon Sir William Eraser. That wa» as far as the politicians were concerned, but the country wanted to remember men like Messrs Hay, Barry, Birks, and Kissel!, who worked day and night to keep the country on the right lines. He wished to pay tribute to them. “Don't expect 100 much,” said Mr Contes in conclusion. “I have not studied politics as much as some people. I have not the finesse of politics anyhow, but I (rust I shall be able to render some service to you, and that yon will not have to regret the job lining placed on my 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.