TRIBUTES TO SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25238, 29 May 1943, Page 4

TRIBUTES TO SERVICE

MESSAGE FROM BRITISH GOVERNMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 28. Among the many messages received by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, are the following:— » .From the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, Mr C. R. Attlee: “His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain has heard with regret of the sudden death of Mr Coates, who for many years rendered distinguished service to the Dominion, both in peace and war. As 1 the chief representative of his country at past Imperial Conferences he was well known to us here, and we realisq what his loss will mean to New Zealand, especially at this time when he held an important office as Minister of War Co-ordination. Please accept the sincere sympathy of my colleagues and myself.” From Mr Raymond E. Cox, United States Charge d’Affaires: “My Government will be deeply grieved to hear of the loss] of one of New Zealand’s most outstanding public men. Permit me to extend to you the sympathy of my Government and of all the members of the American Legation in Wellington!. All those ■ who had the privilege of association with Mr Coates in the wonderful work he did in .the war effort will know how great this loss is and how untimely is his passing.” From Rear - admiral Wilkinson, deputy commander in the South Pacific: “ On behalf of Admiral Halsey, who, I know, admired and respected Mr Coates greatly, and for myself as well, may I' say that we share the deep sorrow of New Zealand at his untimely and sudden death. ' He impressed us with his ability, his sincerity, and his whole-hearted devotion to the cause of New Zealand’s contribution to the prosecution of the war and towards ultimate victory.” The delegate of the Fighting French in New Zealand, M. de la Tribouille, in a message to Mr Fraser, conveyed sympathy on behalf of the French National Committee in London, Admiral d’Argenlieu, the civil and military authorities, and the people of France. “ With his death,” he said, “ we French people mourn a man who loved our country.” , A message has been sent *to Mrs .Coates by the United Kingdom High Commissioner to New Zealand, Sir Harry Batterbee, expressing his personal sorrow at Mr Coates’s death,' and paying a tribute to him as a prominent Empire statesman and as a friend. Messages have also been received from the High Commissioner for Canada, Dr W A. Riddell, the Acting Australian Trade Commissioner, Mr J. L. Menzies, the Governor of Fiji, Major-general Sir Philip Mitchell, the Netherlands Consul, -the _ Consulgenerals for Poland, Belgium, and China, the Consul for Czechoslovakia, the Honorary Consul for Norway, ..the Auckland Czechoslovak Association, the Wellington Jugoslav community, the High Commissioner in Australia, Mr C. A. Berendsen, the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, the president of the People’s Movement, Mr James Crisp, and numerous local authorities. , Mr E. T. Tirikatene, member of the Executive Council representing the Native race, in a tribute to Mr Coates, emphasised his great sympathy with ,-the needs and aims of the Maori people. v At the annual conference .of the Returned Services’ Association the death of Mr Coates was referred to by the president, Mr W. Perry, M.L.C., who said Mr Coates had been a life member of the association and a holder of its gold badge. Ex-soldiery, regard-, less of politics, regarded him as a fine' man and one with a magnificent fighting record in the Great War. Delegates stood in silence, and, on the motion of the president, it was resolved that the conference record its regret at Mr Coates’s death, and express appreciation of his services to New Zealand in war and peace,