FINAL SCENE IN PARLIAMENT.

Shannon News, 11 December 1928, Page 1

FINAL SCENE IN PARLIAMENT.

ME COATES DIGNIFIED IN DEFEAT. TRIBUTES PROM OPPONENTS. When the House met on Friday afternoon, the Speaker reported that in receiving the Address-in-Reply, his Excellency the Governor- Genial said: “I fully recognise it is essential that my advisers should .possess the confidence of the House of Representatives, and in view of your assurance that they do not possess that confidence, 1 wili bike measures for the formation of a new administration.” On the motion of the Prime Minister, his Excellency's message was ordered to be recorded in the journals o? the House.' EARLY RESIGNATION. The Prime Minister said in view of the decision, it would be his duty to tender the resignation of the Government to his Excellency and that course he- proposed to take just as soon as it was convenient to his Excellency. f

Sir Joseph Ward said that on behalf of the United party, he wanted to express appreciation of the kindly offer made by Mr Coates in the course of a very good speechj. He thought the whole House would :ecognise the difficulties of the position in which Mr Coates was placed. Such a thing came to everybody who was in politics for a long time and it was a source of gratification that Mr Coates, on what was probably the last occasion he held the position he had occupied so honourably should express such kindly sentiments as be had done.

Sir Joseph added that some' time after- the House reassembled, he would make a statement on some important matters. He was not going to say anything further' at that stage.

A CLEAN FIGHTER.

Mr 11. E. Holland also paid tribute to Mr Coa'tes as a clean fighter. “We have had to fight and we have fought with the gloves off/' said Mr Holland. “Eyery fighter likes another fighter and when the scrap is over, friendships remain the same. I want •to express my appreciation and I inn sure, the appreciation ; oi| every member 'of the party on these benches, of the manner in .which • the Prime . Minister .has .accepted defeat and the decision of this House. (Hear, hear.) I am sure he will forgive me if I say he never appeared to better advantage, even in the moment of his most decisive victory, than in his hour of defeat today.” f Hon. Sir A. Ngata, speaking on behalf of the Maori people thanked Mr Coates for all he had done in their interests. His actions would hot be lig'htly thought of in years to come. BRICKS AND BOUQUETS.

Mr Coates said the remarks made concerning him were most unexpected. He had received so many bricks during tlie past months, he had not die \would receive any.' ibouquets across the floor of the House. He would ever remember the kind remarks which had been made. No doubt, they would cross swords in the future, but rhey could always look forward to the fact that Whatever they did in the House was not allowed ’to interfere with their friendsnips outside. If the attitude he had taken up was. beyond expectation, he was more than grateful, because judging by the speeches made during the campaign, he had thought he was a- long way below expectations. Mr Coates said he was very much touched by the. kind remarks. He paid tribute to the assistance which he had received at all times from Sir A. Ngata. On Tuesday, concluded Mr Coates lie would like to have an opportunity of making a short statement as to the attitude which the Reform party would take up in regard to Sir Joseph Ward’s administration.. REFORM APPRECIATION.

At a meeting of Reform members of Parliament at noon • on .Friday, a resolution was unanimously passed, recording their highest appreciation of the dignified, manly and statesmanlike speech delivered in the House by Mr Coates. It felt that the speech was the finest effort Mr Coats had made since he assumed the leadership of the Reform party in the House.