MR COATES' BATMAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19442, 30 October 1925, Page 11

MR COATES' BATMAN

HAPPY TE KUITI MEETING. ENTHUSIASTIC SOLDIERS. The Primo Minister has a "digger” comrade in the King Country. Although Mr Coates has risen to high command and his pal holds a not very exalted position in the railway service the affection which grew out of their long association in the great war is as. fresh and sincere to-day as ever. As Major Coates, the Prime Minister had a batman who served him through thick and thin and in his own words was as faithful and loyal a pal as one could wish. It is sufficient to know that his Christian name is Laurie, for he is a modest young man. The Prime Minister spent a joyous two hours with the returned soldiers of the King Country at To Kuiti on Saturday night, states the “New Zealand Herald,” when the men entertained him at a complimentary social after his political address. Soldiers came in from all parts of the district, Laurie among them, and when the gathering was called to order by the chairman, Mr H. T. Morton, president of the Te Kuiti Returned Soldiers Association, there were almost two hundred men present. The utmost good-fellow-ship and cameraderie prevailed, as was to be expected from men who had endured hardships and faced death together. There was nothing stereotyped about the gathering. The formal toasts, except those of “The King,” and “Our Guest/’ were dispensed with, and others such as “Army Nuisances” —insects, adjutants, mud and brass hats—and “Paris Leave,” gave scope for many a witty story. Nothing dreary or objectionable was possible, any likely offender being drowned out iby the chorus, “Old Soldiers Never [Die, They Simply Fade Away.”

“A Man Through and Through.” All ranks paid tribute to the Prime Minister’s qualities as a leader but it was Laurie’s meed of praise that appealed to all. “I want to say that although he is Prime Minister, and I hope he will remain that for many years, I wish him the best of luck, for he is a man through and through.” This was instantly endorsed by the gathering, and Laurie went on to say that if any man in the room had a genuine complaint he could go right to the top of the tree and he would get the same treatment as the biggest squatter in the land.

He recalled many incidents in his association with his major and one of them was eloquent. They were, he said, marching up to Passchendacle, about three miles ahead, and he was packing rations on his back. At the end of the first mile the pack seemed like a ton and he exclaimed “ the rations,” as he threw them down. His chief undertook to carry them, “and he did for the other two miles,” added the former batman with a fond grin at the guest.

i Lieutenant-Colonel C. Dick, who sat *on the Prime Minister’s right, remarked that an officer was never a hero to his batman and he believed that Mr Coates would never receive a better tribute than that just paid to him.

“I did not know 1 was half the ‘bloke’ you say I am,” was the Prime Minister’s opening remark in replying. He wont on to say how much he appreciated his welcome, although he had Hot deserved half of it. “Laurie and 1 have been particular friends from ■ the day we met. I think the term i should be comrades, and long may it be so.” He retailed many stories of campaigning days, and invariably appealed i to Laurie for confirmation. Support i was always forthcoming, always I briefly, such as “Right, sir,” or “Too • true,” and in a manner that challenged ! contradiction. Successful Dragomans. Mr Coates spoke of the quality of ■ the men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and said it. was entirely • due to them that so much had been accomplished, for it was impossible to get anywhere without the goodwill and co-operation of the men. It was to these men that we owed our present , freedom, and the spirit hat animated these men would enable New Zealand ! to maintain the highest deals. He i made brief reference to the late Genera,! Melvill, who, he said, seemed to

understand men and got the best out of them. “I think we have lost a man who would have made good in New Zealand to a remarkable degree,” he concluded. The men insisted in escorting the guest to his “dugout,” and for the next ten minutes the streets of Te Kuiti presented a sight that will not easily be forgotten. The incident recalled familiar scenes in the streets of Cairo. A farmer’s buggy with a pair of horses, one of them a white, had been commandeered, and two of the returned men, assuming tho parts of dragomans implored tho Primo Minister to patronise their gharry. “White horse very good sir—nenak—nenak,” they cried. Mr Coates entered into the spirit of the thing and took his seat beside tho driver, and the idea at once took on. As the conveyance moved along, the 200 diggers followed, making the night hideous with the cries of tho beggars and vendors of Cairo. “Baksheesh, Baksheesh,” was pleaded On all sides. ‘ ‘ Egypt Mail and Times—very good news,” “tomatoes, big one, oranges four for a half,” "eggs-a-cook, ” were some of tho cries that could be distinguished out of the din that disturbed the peaceful town. Finally the procession reached Mr Coates’ hotel, and the gharry pulled up on tho footpath under the verandah that shelters the entrance. Haro the Prime Minister was able to make his escape, and he was no doubt glad to acknowledge the vociferous farewells and get off to bed after one of his most strenuous days.