PRIME MINISTER.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18405, 11 June 1925, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER.

FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH.

"THE GOSPEL OF WORK." (SPECIAL TO "THE PRSSS.") . . DANNEVIRKB, June 10. The Hon. J. G. Contes made his first public appearance as Prime Minister today, when he was present at tho official switching on of Danuevirke's new hydro-electric power. Mr Coatcs was given a reception that was hearty to a degree, and in his speech ho made it clear that his gospel was work, not words. It is bare justice to Mr Coatcs to say that his first speech in his new capacity created a wonderful impression. Mr Coates, who was accompanied by Mrs Coates, was met at tho Danncvirke railway station by a very largo crowd, and the welcome extended him was one he can well feel proud of. Mayoral Welcome. The welcome of the people was well spoken by Mr A. J. C. Runelman, Mayor of the town, who said: "Ou behalf of tho residents of this district, I have pleasure in extending to you as Prime Minister of the Dominion a hearty welcome to Danuevirke. It is gratifying to us that your first official visit since your accession to that high offico should be to our town, and we are pleased that you could find time in tho midst of your multifarious activities and engagements to come here on what is an important occasion in the life of our town. I wish on behalf of the people of Danncvirke to congratulate you on your election to the office of Prime Minister, which, apart from that of the representative of his Majesty, is the highest honour in tho Dominion. Although this office has been conferred on you through your colleagues in the Government of* New Zealand, I feel sure that the people of this country of every shade of political opinion feel that a judicious selection lifts been made. Your political career and your wise administration of the Departments which you have controlled as a Minister of the Crown havo merited your elevation to the highest offico to which you could be elected. In you wo recogniso a worthy succossor to tho illustrious statesman whose loss the people of this Dominion still mourn. It is also most pleasing to all New Zealanders that tho Prime Minister of our fair land should be a son of New Zealand. The name of J. G. Coates is a good augury for tho progress of Danncvirke. Your last visic here was on the occasion of the opening of our new post office, a public building which is much appreciated by the people of this district) and'which will stand as a memorial to your administration of Post and Telegraphs when wo shall all have passed hence. To-day wo have another; step in the advance of Danncvirke, the inception of electric power, and in the formulating of. this great national enterprise you as Minister of Public Works have played no small part. We regret that your stay amongst us must be only for a few hours, but we assure you of the genuineness of our welcome, and we trust that on a future occasion we may have an opportunity of extending to you greater hospitality than the shortness of time will pormifc, to-day."

"This," said Mr Coates, "is the first 'occasion on which I have had to -go through an ordeal of the kind. However, I wish to expreso my appreciation of the welcomo you havtJ given Mrs Coates and myself to-day." Mr Coates said he regretted the ■■.> circumstances which had brought about the changes which resulted in his being in Dannovirke in his present capacity. Nevertheless, changes had to,,come and it was for those who were left to accept the responsibility. He was certainly heartened by the very fine reception he had been given and the very complimentary references which had been, made to any little thing he might have been responsible ,for. in the past.

Coats, Off. It was now, as always, necessary to face the position—necessary .to take coat off and work for the country to see that it is made the best little country in the world. Their work must be not for any class, but for all classes so as to give every man and every womah'in the country proper opportunities. The reception-given him that day would help to make the path easier and assist in giving determination where effort was required" and, so far as he was concerned, the people would be able to judge him by results, and not by a whole lot of words.

A Bed-Letter Day. After the informal reception at the railway station, the Prime Minister was taken to the Arcadia, which was packed to the doors. Mr Coates entered to the accompaniment of an outburst of applause, which continued for some little time, and then there was further applause. •-'. The member for the district, Mr E. A. Ransom, described the occasion as a red-letter day in the history of Danns virke, for they had with them Mr Coates, who was making his first public appearance as Prime Minister. They fully appreciated the fact that he had made it convenient to bo present in spite of the fact that ho was an extremely busy man. Mr Ransom expressed a wish to be associated with the warm welcome given Mr Coate3, and he mentioned that the success o£ the hydro-electric schemes had been due largely to the business ability of the present Prime Minister.. His Job. In his reply to the speeches made in the theatre, Mr Coates, said that his job from now on covered every phaso of existence, and not merely hydroelectricity, which had been the subjeci'' of the speakers who had preceded him. It would be his aim and object to try to do justice to everyone in New Zealand, no matter what tho person's cabling in life might be. He wished it to bo accepted as an opinion of his own that whatever structure was built, the basis of success was the solid foundation of their finance, and just so sure as wo' could make our different structures carry their own weight, just so sure could, we give the benefit of our crodit to all the people. Everything had to be paid for, and while the credit might be used for the purpose of establishment and bringing into operation big schemes which were of value, it was necessary to divorce political hum bug from the prosecution of the coundevelopmental works. It was of national importance, and was essential that the best brains should bo brought to bear on any big undertaking for the country. Facing Problems. It was necessary that we should look our problems in the face and say to ourselves, "Is this in the public interest?" and if a thing is in the public interest, to survey carefully the whole situation, so that when tho proposals were actually made they were of a practical nature. When it came to a question of developing of power such as hydro-electricity, it was essential they should not be carried away by what people might say from the political aspect, but be guided by what convenience it would give to the country. So far as hydro-electricity (Continged at fqptipf aert l i

was concerned, ho thought New Zealand o)ved a debt o£ gratitude to the politicians. He believed the start was made m Sir Joseph Ward's time, that it remained for Mr Boderick MeKenzie to inako the first practical beginning, and that the bulk of the work fell upon Sir William Fraser. That was as far as the. politicians were concerned, but the country wanted to remember men like Messrs Hay, Parry, Birks, and Kissell who worked day and night to keep the country on the right lines. He Wl fn£ V pay a trib nte to them Don't expect too much," said Mr Coates m conclußion. "I have not studied politics as much as some people have, not the finesse of politicsf anyhow, but I trust I will be able to reudet some service to you, and that you will not have to regret the job being placed on my shoulders. It will not be for the want of trying if I can't give a reasonable account of what I think the country requires." Mr Coates resumed his seat amidst much applause.