BANQUET AT THAMES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5274, 14 May 1928, Page 2

BANQUET AT THAMES.

PRIME MINISTER HONOURED. OPENING OF BRIDGE CELEBRATED To celebrate the opening of the Hauraki bridge and the visit of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Minister for Works (the Hon. K. S. banquet was given at Thames on Friday civening by the Hauraki Plains and Thames County Councils and the Thames Borough Council. The chairmen, members, and executive officers of all the local*authorities in the district. together with their wives, were present by invitation, as we'll as a representative gathering of Thames A Valley and Hauraki Plains residents and their wives. Mr W. Bongard, Mayor of Thames, presided, and seated' near him were the Prime Minister and Mrs; Coates, the, Hom K. S. Williams. Mr and Mrs A. M. Samuel. Mr and Mrs T. W. Rhodes, Mr; and Mrs E. L. Walton, Mr and Mrs H. Lowe, and Mr and Mrs W. Marshall. There were over I'so persons present. When the Prime Minister, rose to reply to the toast which the Mayor of Thames had proposed* he was greeted with prolonged applause. He expressed his appreciation of the manner in which the toast had been honoured and his pleasure in being able to take part that day in a work tb.e benefit of which would be felt far beyond the district am] province. In support of this he read a telegram M** from the Commercial Travellers’ Association expressing congratulations and thanks for the, provision of a cessing. Referrirtg to the mining industry, Mr Coates expressed the hope that Thames would once again become the | greatest gold-producing area in thehemispherei. Since he -liaa taken over the portfolio of Mines he had looked up the records and had found that the State for,-many years had made grants to foster prospecting. Of late the applications had been coming in so fast that he did not know what to do, but he would give an assurance that genuine cases backed by sound prospects would be given favourable consideration. Dealing with the economic position of the country, -Mr Coates said that his position enabled him to learn the general trend of affairs., and as be was able to get information, from all parts, of the world; and the most expert opinions, he could feefl. the economic pulse and form an opinion which was worthy of consideration. Thajt being so, he could say that New Zealand was in a position which should be the cause; of gratification, for, by comparison with other countries it was overcoming and passing through its period of in a manner which was the envy of those other countries.

Expressing a general view, Mr. Coates said that the slump oif the secondary industries was the relief of the slump of the primary producers. Thei prosperity of the country depended on the prosperity of the fanmer and his capacity to compete in the markets of the world. A stocktaking of the primary and secondary industries had been made, and the- Government bad decided to set about getting Information from all parts of the wol|ld of the latest and best methods, and to place the information at the disposal of thq industries'concerned. A scientific and research board had been set up to collect information, conduct research, and to pass it out through various sources. Agricultural colleges had been established op each island. This had been done in the past two years, and by comparison with the amount oif similar work done in other, .ccuntries it was apparent that the results would soon show. In one industry alone—'freezing-a saving of £40,000 a year had been effected.

Coming to the ironworks of Thames Mr Coates said that the cause of their depression, was outside the country. The primary producers had to take a lowej; price for their exports, and it was inevitable that the local industry would feel the effect cf the trade depression thereby caused. The State could not be expected tq assist every industry, but it could help. Work had already been given, to the Thames foundries, and 1 more woud be given. The railway system liaq been overhauled, and the. weak spots found. Some of the workshops had. been found to be out of date, and to be wasting thousands-, of pounds a year. They had been scrapped, and newly and modernly -equipped shops have been erected. This had- had an effect on some, second ary industries, the local foundries included, but the shops .wwe aot intended to compete with private enterprise, and the State, would continue to give work to the industries affected. Continuing, Mr Coates ampliiittd the statement be had nreviously given the Press on unemployment, and them dealt al length with the finances of the country, and the Government’s borrowing policy.

Mrs Coates joined her tiusbapd in thanking the people for the reception given them, mentioning her happy recollections of her previous visit, and her hopes of future visits. Replying to M<; H. Lowe’s, toast, the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, said chat his job was now a light one, as he merely followed the policy laid down by the Hon. J. G. Coates. His particular aim was to assist the. backblock settlers. He very much appreciated; the kindly remarks made by the Thames countv cliairiman concerning the- work of the officers of the Public Works Department. The, toast of “The Parliament of New Zealand” was eloquently ami humorously proposed by Mr E. L. Walton, and responded to by Messrs T. W. Rhodes and A. M. Sampel, -M’s.P. Mr C. S. Donovan, of Thames, proposed the toast of “The Ladies,” and Mr E. F. Adams responded. A tribute to the Press ,vas paid by Mr A.- M. Samuel. M.P.. and Mr W. Scrimgeour replied to the toast. The toast of “Local Bodies” was proposed by Mi; F. 11. Claxton, ami was responded to by Messrs H. M. Corbett and F. M. Strange.