HOME AGAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19767, 15 February 1927, Page 7

HOME AGAIN

PRIME MINISTER RETURNS GOOD RESULTS GF CONFERENCE FUTURE PROSPECTS BRIGHT Five months to the day since he left the Dominion, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates returned to Wellington terday by the liner Makurain the course of a speech shortly after his arrival the Prime Minister indicated that he was well satisfied with the results of the Imperial Conference, and said that he was more than ever convinced that there was a bright future ahead for the Dominion and for the Empire. [ Per Press Association. ]

MR COATES CONFIDENT SEES BETTEB TIMES AHEAD THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE BE VIEWED (Per Press Association.)' WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. With Mr and Mrs Coates and party on board, tho Makura reached the heads at 12.30 a.m. At 7 a.m. members of Cabinet went aboard, and tho vessel berthed shortly before nine o’clock. Mr and- Mrs Coates were immediately accorded a welcome by tho harbour authority, thc function taking place in one of the sheds. There was a representative gathering, including tho heads of Government Departments, civic and other officials, and the general public. The chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr M. Cohen) said that, apart from important matters of State, they felt gratitude to Mr Coates for delivering messages of unswerving and unabated loyalty and devoted affection to tho Mother Country, and also for what he had done in his intense desire to promote industrial progress. His words and actions at Home had shed lustre upon all New Zealanders, and they had no doubt that the deliberations in tho Imperial Council in which he had taken part would provide him, with fingerposts, as it were, along the avenues of duty, which would result in tho further advancement of thc Dominion.

At the call of the chairman, Mr and Mrs Coates wore greeted with cheers.

Prais® for New Zealanders

After referring to the pleasure they felt at returning, Mr Coates said that he, and those associated with him, had tried to do their best to uphold the credit of New Zealand wherever they had been. Whether they had been successful or not others must judge. It was very pleasant, as one moved about different part of the world, to hear the very delightful terms used by everyone in reference to New Zealand and New Zealanders. If ho had been able to strengthen those feelings and ■place Now Zealander in an even more favourable light, thc trip to the Conference had been of use. They all knew that there were troubles to overcome, but they were not peculiar to New Zealand. Exactly the same influences had also boon disturbing other countries and peoples, but he thought he could say without exaggeration that New Zealand was a happy and fortunate one. It was necessary, however, to be ever vigilant and to make sure that whatever was done was in the interests of the mass of the people of tho Dominion.

Although there might be a slight depression at the present time, said Mr Coates, he fully believed that they might look to tho future with complete confidence. Britain was agajn getting to work, and just as tho British people wore able to earn money, so they would be able to purchase produce.

Mr Coates said that that was tho opinion he was able to express cursorily at the moment, but later on he hoped to bo able to explain why and how he arrived at his opinion. Provided the country, got along without any serious difficulties, he believed New Zealand was in a more fortunate position than possibly any other country. He hoped thc Imperial Conference had been able to bring about a better feeling between the different outlying portions of tho Empire. Ro could say definitely that there was a splendid feeling between tho various delegates at the Conference. He sincerely trusted that the people of New Zealand would realise that in the conduct of the Conference the very best intentions were meant.

Referring to tho task that lay ahead, the Prime Minister said he frosted that the present vear would be a prosperous one. “I believe,” he said, “that tho future holds forth prosperity, but it does call for effort on the part of everyone. Wo. have a wonderful country, a virile, strong and healthy people, and we can make our Dominion the best country in the wide world.” Misunderstandings Eliminated Interviewed later, Mr Coates said that he did not think the importance of Imperial Conferences could be overestimated. They were the most effective means of co-ordinating and assimilating the activities of the countries forming the Empire. He would not bo understood to say that the conclusions arrived at at the last Conference presented any novel viewpoint or outstanding advance, out he did affirm that it had resulted in the entire elimination of misunderstandings and the creation of a feeling of the utmost goodwill in all parts of the Empire. Perhaps the most important feature, certainly that which would have the greatest and must beneficial effect on the future, was the work of the InterImperial Relations Committee. By virtue of mutual understanding, clear thinking and careful expression it had been possible to give the British peoples and the world a definite and explicit statement of the true relation-

ship of tho component parts of the Empire, containing little room for misunderstanding and no possible germ of discontent. There was ample opportunity for each portion of the Empire to proceed along its own path and make its own future without interference and molestation from any other part, but there was a full realisation of tho necessity of constant communication and consultation that each might understand the other. Trade Relations Mr Coates traversed very fully the large amount of work accomplished on the economic side of the Conference, and referred to the setting up of a committee in London, representing New Zealand, with a view to co-ordin-ating /selling activities, to avoid overlapping, reduce costs and obtain tho maximum effect of the sentiment already created.

Passing through the United States on tho way to London opportunity had been take to discuss with the Secretary of State (Mr F. Kellogg) various aspects of the relations between New Zealand and the United States, and on his return through Canada a considerable amount of time was devoted to investigating trading relations with that Dominion. In Canada the New Zealand party dispersed as widely as possible in order that tho utmost amount of ground might be covered. First-hand information had been obtained on a considerable number of subjects of importance to this country. Dominions and Defence Mr Coates stated that misapprehension had evidently been created through alleged remarks attributed to him in New York to the effect that ho had stated hits concurrence in certain views expressed as to the adequacy of Canada’s contribution to the naval defence of thc Empire. Never at any time did he offer any suggestion on the action of any Dominion, he said to-day. Whatever action Canada might take was entirely a matter for her Government and people to decide. He did express his conviction that it was desirable that the co-opera-tion of the self-geveming Dominions in naval defence should be as great as possible in order that thc financial burdens might be more equitably spread over the Empire, and with tho object of providing adequate protection for seaborne trad-e and commerce. Mr Coates indicated that he would be submitting proposals to his colleagues, regarding naval defence and they would be in tho direction of providing for incr- ased effort by the Dominion in the general scheme of Empiie defence.

Mr Coates said that regret was expressed that greater progress h/fl not been accomplished in the matter of international dirarmament. It was, however, the common desire of the Governments represented at the Imperial Conference to promote a general policy of limitation, but it was felt that such a policy could only be pursued as far as was consistent with the safety and integrity in all parts of the Empire.

CONFERENCE ATTACKED LABOUR LEADER’S CRITICISM STATUS OF THE DOMINIONS [ Per Press Association. ] WESTPORT, Feb. 14. Speaking at Burnett’s Face, Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, said thc work of thc Imperial Conference had been practically resultless in decisions that would give satisfaction to the people of the various Dominions. In the matter of the status, the Conference left them still at thc mercy of English diplomacy in their international relationships. When British statesmen, disregarding tho Covenant of tho League of Nations, and in violation of the Treaty, made their concentration of armed forces in Chinese territory, they gave lhe Dominions no voice in the matter, although, if tho British policy resulted in war, every Dominion would be involved. There was a growing sentiment everywhere that tho Dominions must not be committed to warlike policies or war-provoking acts, unless on the decisions of their peoples. The idea of Empire had to make way for the greater conception of a Commonwealth which would transform Britain and her present Dominions and dependencies into an association of free equal peoples.