STRIKING INCIDENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 7

STRIKING INCIDENT

NATIONALIST AND MR COATES

WILL SUPPORT PRIME MINISTER IF ELECTED

A HAPPY AUGURY.

(Special to ‘‘Chronicle.”) TE AWAMUTU, Oct. 23. An incident at the Prime Minister’i To Aroha meeting this afternoon is indicative of the strong belief there is throughout tho country that Mr. Coates is the man who should lead the Government in the next Parliament. Te Aroha is one of the chief centres of the Tauranga electorate, and the Mayor of Tauranga, Mr. R. Coulter, is the Nationalist candidate who is opposing tho sitting member, Mr. Macimillan, the Government candidate for the seat. A Nationalist’s Welcome. Mr. Coulter took the chair at the meeting, which, though held in the afternoon, was so largo that the Theatre Royal was absolutely crowded, and in introducing Mr. Coates he said: It is good to have Mr. Coates with us to-day, and good to know that at last wo havo a New Zealander for Primo Minister. People of all shades of political opinion admit ho is an absolutely straight goer. (Applause). Ho is admired by tho members of every party, and it is a pleasure to me to be hero to-day and extend to him, on behalf of the people of To Aroha and district, a very hearty welcome. I want to take this opportunity of thanking him for the very fair and impartial manner in which he dealt with our little loOa.l problem, the Te Aroha traffic bridge. (Applause). I havo to steer clear of politics to-day, but I wish to say that I am an admirer, and that when ho comes back at tho head of the New Zealiand Government I am going *to be one of his strongest supporters (slightly derisive cries of ‘oh’ and calls of ‘sit down’). That is how I feel about tho Primo Minister. He is a jolly good sport and every one has to admit it.” Prime Minister’s Reply, ‘‘l want to thank His Worship the Mayor for tho very nice way in which ho has introduced me to you,’’replied Mr. Coates. ‘‘l sincerely hope that on November 4 there will bo sufficient to provide a Government that will be strong enough to govern without frtir or favour to any section of the community. It is a very happy augury that wo have Mr. Macmillan, tho member for the district, anxious to be hero to-day, and the Mayor giving up his political duties to welcome me here. Well, you cannot be half-hearted over a thing of this kind, and I hm fighting for my existence. The Mayor won’t mind if I differ from him politically. I cannot see any reasonable man differing from the views I am about to express.” (Laughter and applause)