THE NEW PRIME MINISTER

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

THE NEW PRIME MINISTER

GOI-TGIi ATUTiATORY MESSAGES “YOU’LL HO ME, DIGGER!” WELLINGTON, May 28. The Hon. J. G. Coates to-day received hundreds of congratulatory messages from ail parts of New Zealand. One from the French Consul was couched in the following glowing terms; “I am happy to congratulate the recently chosen leader in this now victory, coming while La Basscvillo and Mailly Maillet arc still fresh in our minds.” A typical soldier’s message came from an Expeditionary Force comrade:' • ‘ Manage the country as you did your company, and you’ll do me, digger!' Heartiest congratulations. ’ ’ Congratulations came from many leading men. Mr V/ilford, Leader of the Liberal Party, in his congratulatory message, points out: “This is the first time in. the Dominion’s history that both the Premier-ship and the Leadership of the Opposition arc hold by Now Zealandborn men.” Among the congratulations are messages, from Sir W. C. CaThcfoss, Sir W. Hail Jones, the Hon.. Ngata and other members of Parliament with the Government and Opposition.