The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 2nd, 1925. A BUSINESS PREMIER.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 2nd, 1925. A BUSINESS PREMIER.

I 111:1:1: are three mitahle point.-, outstanding in the .statement el the Prime Minister |.ulili.s|iej yesterday on the o.etteion el his taking up the high ofli The lifst i - .M r C nates' mudost y ol e\ine.s-.ien. Tim .-ceoml I' tils devotion to the business rather than the political side of the ufiico. The third is the whole-hearted way in which he holds ajar the door for the probable fusion of the forces opposed to extreme Labor. The greatest ol these is the business side of the situation which Alt' Coates i.s at no little pains to set. forth. And that for the reason that it is the internal administration more than anything else which requires adjustment in New Zealand. Polities of late have been something akin ti an auction mart, each party attemptting to bi<f higher than the other in the attempt to catch votes, and with the competitors in the field there has never been any lack of enthusiasm about the offers. But Mr Coates is disposed to tiling us all down to earth again, and by stressing the business side of the position, realise where the country is drifting by continual borrowing, and the desire to purchase prosperity at a very costly price. Probably Air Coates has realised the position from his intimate knowledge of the financial stringency in the Treasury, or he may have had his eyes opened by the comparative failure of the rceent New Zealand loan on the London market. Suffice it to say, however, he has realised the necessity of setting the house in order, and making an effort to live within means. For this touch of self-reliance 7ji his exprc.-sed policy, much thanks. There i.s the suggestion that thrift rathe’' than extravagance will mark his policy. It may be as the Wellington Deform newspaper bluntly says, Alt' Coates “is a pour speaker and is seldom effective in debate," but the country dees lintwant a pleasant Mow of words merely to tickle the ear. it wants work, and as the same newspaper has said in a more generous mood. ATr Coates “is endowed in a considerable degree with

vision. judgment and driving power,” sj wo may expect from his policy stateniont. not tho vision oi the drenmor, hut tho outlook of olio who looks ahead and weighs tho position for its pssihilitios. During a comparatively short political career, Mr Coates has had a j crowded experience. lie has managed the three greatest departments of the public service. In not any instance diil he succeed at once, fie had no special gift in that direction. But he liad to live and learn, and lie assimilated quickly, ltcing an apt pupil, and now the country is reaping the worth of his training. Mr Coates knows Xew Zealand from end to end and side to side. He has delved into the rami-

Citations of liis departments in all detail. and he has had a personal experience in that respect that not another man in Xew Zealand can claim. It would he well, therefore if Mr Coates retains both portfolios affecting public- works and railways. He has a knowledge and grip which would take another a long time to acquire, and the learning might lie very costly. On business lines Mr Coates is the best man on the horizan for the work, and as he purposes making politics more domestic than academic, he will have

the greater time to give attention to tlie two most important derailments renresentimj income and exjtoncliture to the country. Next to the business side of the career he has now entered upon, the act of opening wide the door of < pp-'rtnnitv for a fusion is most commendable. It is a common sense action in keeping with the ‘vision” he has been credited with, and it is in keeping also with his desire? to be businesslike —which is common sense in the reality. Mr Coates is the man

to secure the fusion, for lie is apart himself from the old political stock whence grew conservatism and liberalism. He is modern in political thought and leanings, thus justifying confident c and drawing men to him. In his i use there are no skeletons in the ciiplu aid of the dim past, and no reactionary record against him. Me lias an opportunity to unite the )al lies, and he is offering to do it. i as free and as frank a manner as could he wished. The lion. J. (. ('■ ate... Prime .Minister, has made a good beginning in keeping with his past record, and promising to realis the good wishes of the many hundreds of Iriends who have been saying the nicest possible things of him during the past few days.