AUREVOIR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17132, 7 September 1926, Page 3

AUREVOIR

PREMIER FAREWELLEI> AMONG HIS CONSTITUENTS A GREAT WELCOME (Per Press Association.) DARGAVILEE, last night. The Premier, Air. Conies, was tendered a civic farewell prior to his departure for the Imperial Conference, at Dargavillc, the odicial headquarters of his electorate, this evening. lie arrived at: 5 o’clock and was immediately engaged in receiving deputations touching on several matters of local and district importance. At 7.d1) In' ollicially opened the new I'luiiket and Women’s Rest Rooms, at which he touched briefly on the work done by the Sociely since its inception and paid a special tribute to its founder, Sir Truby King. Towards the conclusion of lj,is address he also briefly touched on the Ad, recently passed in Parliament, in connection .with child welfare, staling that, no matter wliat its opponents called it, dole or otherwise, it was a start and showed that the Government was honest in its endeavor to assist the low-vvage-earners and the children of ilic .Dominion.

At .S o’clock the largest theatre in Dargavillc was packed to the doors with settlers from all parts of the electorate, many coming fill miles, to pay tribute to their Prime Minister and popular member. The. function look the form of a conversazione, at which songs, recitations and musical items .were rendered. Opport unity was also taken to present the Royal Humane Society's medals to two local lads, Alastcrs Fit/.henry and Rush, for life saving, the presentation being made bv the Prime Minister.

Halfway through the musical programme the Mayor of Dargavillc, Mr. F. A. Jones, otlicialiy welcomed Mr. Coales on behalf of the citizens and, on their behalf, wished him good-bye, a pleasant trip ami a safe return to the Dominion.

Mr. F. J. Darga\ille. (lie depntychairinan of the Hobson County Council, spoke on behalf of the county and paid a tribute to the popularity of the Prime Minister, who was bred ami born in the. district, and of whom the people wore justly proud. MR. COATES’ REPLY ' Air. Coates, on rising.to respond, was given a rousing reception and soon .made himself at home among his own people by telling a diverting story about the contents of a letter he had recently received from a “Digger” friend in Australia. He then went on to speak of matters to.come before the.lmpefinl Conference, on similar lines to the opinions which he expressed in a recent speech in the House dealing with Imperial Conference matters, tic dwelt at some length on Die question of giving preference to British goods as against those- manufactured by those not of our race. He thought that there were a lot of points in connection with goods required and used in the Dominion which could be talked over with Die Dome mamifacturers, especially lyot.ur cars and Implements of a like nature, which would lead to n bettor understanding with the people who miumi'acliiivil them in the Old Land, and those who used them in the Dominions. We wore, bound to the Mother Land by a bond of blood and of language. The Mother Land had stood behind us in the hour of stress and it was our duty to help in every way possible.

. Air. Coates defended the. migration policy of tin l Government and fully explained how it came about that there seemed to be an over-plus this year, and, during the course of his statement, said that we had promised to take .10,000 per year, tint had got behind to the extent of soiik 1 4(11)0 during the last two years, and the Government felt thill it was their duty to keep faith with llio people at the other cud. By the end. of this year they would have brought out about Id,ooo. If we only considered ourselves, we would not; get very far ahead. LI was our duty to assist the At other Land as far as lav in our power, and as long as we could absorb, all, the healthy migrants, and as long as tliits could safely be done, it was our duty to take them. It would bo fatal to bring out more than we could absorb, and, as long as that was guarded against, we were on sate ground. .SHIPPING PROBLEMS With regard to shipping, Mr. Coates said: “Wo must have closer contact with the heart of the Empire and shorten .the distance between the Dominion and the Mother Land.” He referred to the great strides made in pecent years, in the growth of trade between New Zealand, Australia and Britain, the trade of the Jirst mentioned country last year being greater Ilian Dial will) Russia before the war, and, if New Zealand and Australia were combined, greater than that with Europe at the sauie period.

lie concluded by making a strong appeal on behalf of the primary producers upon which, so much, this country depended for its prosperity. He explained that (lie meeting lie was addressing was not the one at which to enlarge upon Imperial Conference affairs and that the audience would understand. In conclusion lie snid how much lie appreciated the great reception lie had been given by liis own people, and said how much a member of Parliament was helped by being aide to keep in close touch with iiis own constituents. He particularly wished to thank those electors who had come from so great a distance, to give linn a chance of saying “good-bye” to them.

The meeting concluded about 10.30 p.rn. amidst a scene of great on vhusiasm.