MR COATES RETURNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19766, 14 February 1927, Page 6

MR COATES RETURNS

The Imperial Conference is something outside of political faction. It speaks for the Empire as a whole and represents its citizens as a unity. All New Zealanders, of whatever party, will therefore join in extending a cordial welcome home to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, who to-day completes his homeward voyage after attending the Conference of 1926 in London. Much of the work of the Conference had, of necessity, to be taken in camera., chiefly because of the extremely sensitive state of the political barometer as regards foreign affairs. But ample synopses of al] sittings have been given out, and the public being already acquainted with these, repetition is unnecessary. What concerns us at the present moment is the part played by New Zealand’s representative.

There is testimony from all sides that this Dominion was represented at the 1926 Conference very worthily indeed. As is his wont, Mr Coates never said two words when one would do. What he did say was to the point, showed a thorough grasp of the matters discussed, was as'appreciative of the Imperial outlook as of the New Zealand point of view, and was always expressed with characteristic common sense. Both at the conference and during the tour of the Old Band which followed—the latter being really of a semi-official and not a purely private nature—Mr Coates exhibited a happy blend of dignity, modesty, and geniality, and this, added to his own native ability, not only made him a popular figure whereever he went, but reflected credit upon the Dominion he represented. He may truthfully be said to have met with the approbation of all parties, and all parties will, therefore, lay aside their differences in their personal pleasure at having him among us again.