A MAN OF HIS WORD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20101, 18 May 1927, Page 10

A MAN OF HIS WORD.

PRIME MINISTER REDEEMS PROMISE. WARM WELCOME AT TE KOPURU. (Special to Daily xim. s.) DARGAVILLE, May 17. Typical of the great value which Mr Coates places upon a promise, no matter how small may be the issue or the part concerned, was his visit to-day to Te Kopuru, a small village on the Wairoa River, a few miles south of Dargaville. In its heyday Te Kopuru was the largest sawmilling centre in Now Zealand. In all his extensive electorate the Prime Minister has no more loyal band of supporters than the residents of the village and the district adjoining, and it was with some regret that they heard he would be unable to afford them the opportunity of bidding him good-bye and good luck when he was leaving for the Imperial Conference. Mr Coates, however, told them that he would come to Te Kopuru on the first available opportunity on his return. It was only a small promise. Excuses by the hundred could have been found for putting off the visit, but that is not Mr Coates's way. He reached Dargaville yesterday, spoke there in the evening, and this morning as the first of his official business he arrived in Te Kopuru. The welcome that was extended to him and to Mrs Coates was ample repayment for the little inconvenience that was caused them. The village declared a half-holiday for the event, and turned out in force to greet the visitors. Acknowledging the welcome which was addressed to him by Mr M. C. Walpole, Mr Coates struck a note of optimism, telling the people who, as a community, have experienced the difficulties incidental to a change over in industry from timbermilling to dairying, that he was convinced brighter times were ahead. He was certain that Great Britain was abour to enter an era of renewed prosperity which must react to the benefit of Now Zealand. Few people could realise the great struggles which had attended the reconstruction since the war. The whole of the manufacturing systems ot England had been overhauled and brought into line with the most modern developments. There were people who said the Old Country was done. Nothing of the kind. She could compete with any country in the world. A striking instance of the Mother Country’s recuperative powers was her seizure of first place in the- electrical manufacturing world and the revival of shipbuilding, one of the Belfast yards having now four years’ work in Coming nearer homo, Mr Coates said the Government could help, and was helping, the country in overcoming its difficulties, but it could not do everything. Hasty ill-considered legislation might easily create greater evils than it was designed to overcome. The remedy lay greatly in the hands of the people who must strive for greater production at the lowest possible costs.