TRIBUTES IN THE HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23964, 3 June 1943, Page 3

TRIBUTES IN THE HOUSE

MR COATES’S WORK FOR NEW ZEALAND «A MAN WHO CANNOT BE REPLACED” pA ) WELLINGTON, June 2. ' nvihutes to the services to the Doof the Rt. Hon. J. G, Coates, Sir Cd Ransom, and Mr S. G. Smith f‘‘ e paid by members of the House -fternoon. and at the conclusion of "‘session the House adjourned until lift om to-morrow as a mark of recnpct to their memory. Moving a motion of appreciation of services of Mr Smith, and of conitiJe with his relatives, the Prime Minister 'the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said •hat the majority of members of the House had known Mr Smith well, some If them for a very long period. Mr cmith had been a very prominent ® prn bcr of the trade union movement. ?nd had been held in the highest p«tcem by all. Everyone respected him for his services to New Zealand, and Mr Fraser paid him a special tribute for his work for education, and his conned support for educational progress. It was dramatic, said Mr Fraser, that on the last occasion on which Mr Smith had spoken he had been representing the Education Board in a deputation to a committee of the New Plymouth Borough Council. He wished to pay a tribute on behalf of the House and the country to one who had given a life of great service to the country. Seconding the motion, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) said Mr Smith had been highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him, and he had been a popular member with all sides of the House. The public life of New Zealand had been greatly enriched by the service Mr Smith had given it. The motion was supported by several members on both sides of the House and carried. Sir Alfred Ransom Moving a similar motion regarding Sir Alfred Ransom, Mr Fraser said that, as had been said of Mr Smith, he had been a popular member of the House. He had been a strenuous debater, and bit out strongly, and he had made many eloquent speeches supporting closer land settlement. They had known he had been ailing for some time, and while his death had come with great suddenness, it had not been altogether unexpected by those nearest and dearest to him. , The motion was supported by Mr Holland, who said that Sir Alfred Ransom had intended to leave political life. One instance of Sir Alfred Ransom’s kindliness and helpfulness, said Mr Holland, had been Hs personal gift to him of a number of books and papers which Sir Alfred Ransom had thought would be of use to him in his work. Tributes were also paid by other members, and the motion was passed ‘‘Devastating Loss” Paying a feeling tribute to the life and service of Mr Coates, the Prime Minister described Mr Coates’s death as a loss at the present time that was devastating and overwhelming. He was a man who could not be replaced. Mr Coates had died at a time when his services were never more valuable to New Zealand and to the British Commonwealth. Mr Coates had a driving sense of duty, animating his nature and influencing his outlook, .and he never turned aside from doing what he considered to be his plain, clear duty, and of taking the path he thought was the right one, whether it was the accepted or unaccepted one. the orthodox or unorthodox. Mr Coates had brought to the War Cabinet the benefit of his military experience, and was prepared to forfeit everything, to lay down his future career, and if needs be his life for the country he loved. New Zealand realised that a great man had passed away. Seconding the motion moved by Mr Fraser, recording the appreciation df the House of Mr. Coates’s services, and (expressing sympathy with Mrs Coates id the family and relatives, Mr Hoik'd said it was a great many years y«mce the country was so shocked by t!/? passing of a public man. There nad been few men in New Zealand with a record more distinguished than that of Mr Coates. Mr Holland referred to the diplomacy and tenacity displayed by Mr Coates when he represented New Zealand overseas. He was a man who never questioned the right of others to differ from him, and he nevgr showed any bitterness. He Wished to acknowledge the debt he owed to Mr Coates from the advanhe had gained from many consultations with him. Tributes to Mr Coates were also paid by Mr Speaker (the Hon. W. E. Barnard), and other Ministers and members. The House rose at 6.25 p.m. until ”0 p.m. to-morrow/ MOTIONS PASSED BY UPPER HOUSE (PA) WELLINGTON. June 2. .tributes to three former Ministers M the Crown, the Rt. Hon. J. G. » v; s \ Sir Alfred Ransom, member for Pahiatua, and Mr S. G. Smith, a rormer member for New Plymouth, were paid by the Legislative Council w-flay, when motions similar to those w the House of Representatives were passed. The council then adjourned as a mark of respect to June 8. * THAT SPLENDID MAN ” TRIBUTE PAID BY LONDON BUSINESSMAN (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) {R ~., 7 P- m -) LONDON. June 1. Hnn Were paid to the late Rt - G. Coates at a luncheon given ?y the London board of the Bank of «ew Zealand to the New Zealand Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. nes). Mr Cecil Lubbock, the chairon, referred to the great loss to the i ° miaion and the Empire by the pass"r°K s Pl en< lid man.” In iu- *be honour of knowing him i" l , hl T s CuUn try,” said Mr Lubbock. I f never lost the deep and vivid of his fine presence and e P ersona 'ity.” r . Janes said;'“lt is only in a close -sociation where you really get to ~p°w a man, and during the last four tho * know that in connexion with war he rendered wonderful assistfW • Jones added that Mr w ates s ma 'n aim in life was to serve "is country. It ,? e d ' d a h he possibly could to see Properly defended, and no man has 7 e . n a greater contribution to New ißgnd’s war effort than Gordon ( ■•Ps. He himself would have loved I belter than to be with the I he mg forces ' He did try to tell me I a long w ay younger than he I nf JR wa , s - That is the typical attitude [i v tfle soldier of the last war. I feel I *>,_. have wished nothing better I n to die as he did, in harness.” I (ir?u ss ig es sympathy in the death I r«. n - e Rh M°n. J- G. Coates have been by the Prime Minister (the ph H°n- P. Fraser) from Vice-Admiral U.S.N., a former commander we south Pacific, and from Captain Ga yler, Medical Corps, United ®‘ates Navy.—P.R.