THE FINANCE MINISTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19802, 18 May 1934, Page 6

THE FINANCE MINISTER

SEEKING “TIME TO THINK.” By Telegraph Press Association BLENHEIM, May 17. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, accompanied by Mrs Coates, Miss Barbara Coates, and a small staff, left Blenheim this morning for the Waiho Gorge, where he will have “time to think.” Responding to a welcome in Blenheim, the Minister said he left Wellington because he was unable to get time to think interviewers with different versions on this and that kept coming along, and made it impossible to get a few hours to oneself to think out important legislation for the coming session. “We are going as far as Waiho for the purpose of having two or three days as quiet as possible, so that one can get down on to paper one’s thoughts clearly.” The Minister also stated that the future could be regarded with greater confidence than, say two years ago. There was a feeling of confidence abroad. “In spite of the fact that some sections of the community say that what the Minister of Finance is doing is all wrong, one has to remember that when a Government has to pass through a difficult period, you can’t leave it for half a dozen to handle; it must be for one man to take courage in his hands, fix his mind on an objective that he decided will supply the solution, and march steadily to that objective. If Blondin were crossing a tight rope, it would be no good for anyone to call out advice to lean this way and that way, further forward, or further back. If he listened he would assuredly fall off, and so it is with the Minister of Finance.” I The party is proceeding south via Westport.