The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JANUARY 8. 1927.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 January 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, JANUARY 8. 1927.

THE PREMIER RETURNING. 'Che IU. Hon. ,J. G. Contes having completed his representative visit to England and the Continent of Europe, is now returning. He received a notable send-off from London, in which the victorious Maori Rugby team participated. Mr Coates was both the youngest and most inexperienced of the Ministerial representatives at the Conference, and had the great tradition left by Mr Seddoii, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Massey to maintain. It is a pleasure to record that he did good, not to say, useful service at the Imperial Con fere nee, which was history making in its general effect. The Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia probably overshadowed Mr Coates in many ways, hut did not eclipse him. It was plain after what has transpired subsequently, that the robust loyalty of Mr Coates was a factor inside the Conference room, and was helpful in reaching the ultimate decision which gave satisfaction to nil parts of the Empire. Mr Coates may ho credited, therefore, with representing New Zealand very worthily, and playing no minor part in the important deliberations reached. Outside the Conference, Mr Coates lias been considerably In the lime-light, which has seen no mean advantage to N, w Zealand from an advertising point of view. Ho certainly has kept file Dominion well to the fore, and the general effect may be realised for some time to come. As to the Conference itself, Mr Coates in a lotlor to ‘‘The Times,” tints summed up his views on the work done in the following statement made at the close of the Imperial deliberations:—The outstanding feature. as T see it., of the Conference that has just concluded has lieen the spirit of good will and of tolerance that has animated the representatives front every portion of the Empire. The extent to which each member of the Conference has appreciated and respected points of view not in all respects similar to his own has been most marked, and with the existence of this very healthy spirit it lias been a pleasure to debate the important subjects listed for consideration and a very much easier task than miglitotherwiso have lieen the case to arrive at conclusions satisfactory to all. That it has been possible to decide questions of groat intricacy and of the utmost importance, hearing as they do upon sections of our people differing widely in many cases in race, in history, in geographical positon and in numerical strength is. I think, a wonderful achievement, and one of very happy augury for the future of the Empire. The conclusions arrived at by the Conference on the vital question of interimperial relations should not he regarded as. in any way an attempt to lay down any fixed written form of Constitution. They "represent Tather the principles which we are all agreed should serve as a guide in our relations one with the other, leaving to the future the usual play of adaptation so characteristic of British policy. The position of New Zealand on this matter is well-known—we have lieen entirely satisfied with our standing as an integral portion of the Empire, and with onr existing form of relation 1 ? with

li is Majesty's Government in Great Britain, but wo regard agreement as the main requirement in tin? structure of tho Kmpire, and have been glad to fall in with any proposal that will remove the misapprehensions and misunderstandings that appeared at one time to have been likely to arise. On the economic side the Conference lias, in my opinion, done valuable and lasting work. The effect will not be immediate, but in tbe future it will, I think, be found that tbe Empire will lie stronger economically as tlfe result of the deliberations of tbe Conference than could possibly have been expected without such a means of consultation and advice. I wish to stress very strongly my appreciation of tho value of the personal intercourse between representatives of Great Britain, of all the dominions, and of India, that lias been afforded by the Conference. The knowledge that has been obtained in individual viewpoints and of individual difficulties must be of inestimable value in removing the cause of any possible misunderstandings in the future. I feel satisfied with the results of the Conference and confident that the Empire will be tbe stronger for its work. I think this is the general opinion of all members of the Conference; there now remains onlv the application of these feelings and principles with good will and understanding.