GOSPEL OF HARD WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1925, Page 8

GOSPEL OF HARD WORK.

TASK OF NEW PREMIER. AUCKLAND’S CONGRATULATIONS. GOVERNMENT OF THE STATS. BUSINESS PRINCIPLES WANTED. Tele«rai»h. —Preaa Association. Auckland, Night. The first visit to Auckland of Mr. J. G. Coates since his elevation to the office of Prime Minister was signalised at noon to-day by a civic reception at the Town Hall, when he was accorded an enthusiastic welcome.

In welcoming the Prime Minister the Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon) said: “You all know Mr. Coates as well as or better than I do.. Some of you are his personal friends. You all know of his distinguished war service. You know of him as a valued member for his district and as a worthy Cabinet Minister, and you have learned to respect him. You are here to-day to hearten him and encourage him, and you will, I am sure, look forward, as 1 will, to the consummation of what I know to 'be his desire, that is, to do the greatest possible good of which he is capaible for our Dominion and all of its citizens.” On rising to respond the Prime Minister was heartily cheered. He was not, he said, a stranger among them, and he hoped that as the years went on their interest in him would not suffer disappointment. Aucklanders had been very kind to him, particularly in his own district, and he wanted them all to remember him as they used to as their member for Kaipara, and “just a small farmer up north.”

The position he had accepted at the request of his colleagues in the Ministry would not make the slightest difference, Mt. Coates continued. Ho hoped to continue the friendships and associations he had with the people who had known him as a lad, or with whom he had since become acquainted. He hoped by determination, hard work, zeal and attention to duty to worthily represent the country. Mr. Coates stressed the necessity of imbuing in young people a sense of honour in and reverence for the Empire. The principles on Empire had been based had been faith in God, loyalty to King and country, and confidence in ourselves. ATTITUDE ON SECURITY PACT. Referring to the pact, Mr. Coates said that while New Zealand reserved the right to 'be consulted in matters of negotiation with European Powers, when New Zealand had expressed its opinion it left it to the Imperial authorities to make what arrangement they thought best and fit, and. New Zealand had already cabled to the Home Government to say that whatever arrangements Groat Britain might make for the purpose of securing peace, we were behind her to a man. The Homeland was our guard, and it was essential that the Dominion should render her every assistance, particularly just now when Gieat Britain was suffering an industrial depression and struggling to regain her trade supremacy. The empty spaces of the Dominions must be filled with the overflow of Great Britain's population, and when they came here they would promote employment and trade between the two countries. The Homeland purchased nearly all our exports, and it was to her that our prosperity was due. The Premier made a strong plea for the community and the* individual to purchase British goods. “My outlook so far as the Empire is concerned,” concluded the Prime Minister, “is that 1 stand for and will assist to protect the flag which grants liberty, ! freedom and justice to all who choose to come under it. I hope as time goes on that we will be able to prove to you that you have a Government which can carry on although our great leader has passed away.” The Prime Minister was heartily cheered at the conclusion of his address. Subsequently Mr. Coates attended a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The president of the chamber (Mr. Martin) and Mr. Peter Barr, of Dunedin, president of the Associated Chambers of l ■ominvrc.v. both paid warm tributes to the new Premier. SOUND FINANCE ESSENTIAL. In his reply Mr, Coates said that we were living under the British flag and the standard of the commercial men of Britain was a very high one. They had not the reputation, of penalising the the community, therefore business might safely be left to go along on its own way. The Government, however, wanted the co-operation of business men. Speaking as the head of the Government, he could say that they welcomed their support. Tho Government wanted the great State institutions managed as business men managed their own concerns.

Mr. Coates quite agreed that commercial matters and politics could not mix. In his opinion the whole success of New Zealand’s future must depend upon her financial arrangements. She must have a sound system of national finance, and only when matters had been put on a properly regulated tbasis would it be possible for the State to maintain its credit. It was just as essential for the State to have good credit, as it was for a business to have good credit. Quite recently they hud sought the assistance and co-operation of the chambers of commerce by asking them to admit departmental officers to the membership of those bodies so that a better understanding could be created between private commerce and the pulblic departments. He wished to extend this movement.

Referring to the Railway Department, Mr. Coates intimated that the Rail.way Board hud just got out a new tariff. It was intended to circulate this amongst the chambers of commerce and other trade organisations so that their opinions could be sought, after whidi it would be dealt with by the Government. He wished to assure them that so far as expenditure on railways, hydro-electricity, irrigation and telephones was concerned, he did not expect to have to call upon the taxpayers of the country. With education and public health it was different. There the return came in another form, namely, a healthy and happy community.