Patea & Waverley Press MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1925. THE NEW PRIME MINISTER

Patea Mail, Volume XLVIII, 1 June 1925, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1925. THE NEW PRIME MINISTER

■'file members ox the late Mr Massey’s parly in Parliament arc to be heartily congratulated on iheir choice of a leader. There can be no question that in the Aon. J. G. Coates the electors of the Dominion have obtained a vortliy successor to Mr Massey. Possessed of an' abundance of -•norgy and determination, coupicd willi exceptional ability (though his uatuial modesty compels ium to deny tins attribute, there is small wonder that Mr Coates vras chosen by his colleagues to lead them in the future. It is exceptionally gratifying to ms to be able to congratulate Mr Coates on his high office, as the ■press” was. wo believe, the first paper in the Dominion to refer to j 'Din as the coming man in New Zealand politics. The new Prime Minister has had what has been .ermed a meteoric career, his advancement being entirely due to ais exceptional energy and ability, entering Parliament as a Liberal in 1911, he found, the following year, that Mr Massey’s policy was as Liberal as one could wish to have, and he was not long in deciding to throw in his lot with' the statesman who has just passed w.vay. On war breaking out, Mr Coates, who had had some years’ •dJdary service as officer in camsand of a mounted ritle corps,

> oiuut cored for service at the Wont, and before he had left camp had gained a commission. At.the front he proved his worth again and again, and was rewarded with the Military Cross, and later on a bar to the decoration. At the close of the war he reentered the political arena, and in 1919 was offered, and accepted, the portfolios of PostmasterGeneral and Justice in Mr Massey’s Cabinet, and .shortly afterwards, on the death of Sir William Fraser, ?dr Coates was made Minister of Public Works and also Minister of Railways, and it was then that his qualities as an administrator were shown. Since his ajopointment to the dual position, Mr Coates has travelled all over the Dominion from the North Capo to the Bluff, and has made himself thoroughly acquainted with the Public Works system and the railways in every part of the

country. As Minister of Public Works he soon realised that the old-time methods and system were out of elate, and he forthwith saw to it that proper modern labour-saving machinery was brought into vogue, steam shovels and similar articles taking the place of the old handcart and wheelbarrow. In addition to this, he reinstated the more progressive contract system, as against the old co-operative relief works system. In the" railways, too, Mr Coates has also made his influence felt. Unlike most of his predecessors, who had been content to accept the assurances of the officials that reforms could not be carried out, Mr Coates decided to obtain outside expert advice, and soon found, as he had all along thought, that the much-needed improvements could be carried out and the railway service run more in the interests of the people. The result is that to-day, thanks to Mr Coates, the public are being much better served with regard to the railways to the benefit of the Dominion and all concerned. It is sincerely to be hoped that Mr Coates will be given a further opportunity of showing his remarkable abilities as an administrator .aid a statesman..