Defeat with Honour

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 7

Defeat with Honour

PRAISE FOR MR. COATES

Victor and Vanquished

(T&E 3L ; AS Parliamentary Reports

1 WELLINGTON, Friday. THF- last act but one in the political drama of the present Parliament was finished at about 2.45 this afternoon, when the House adjourned until 2.30 on Tuesday next, before which time the Right Hon. J. G. Coates will resign, and the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward will form his administration and meet the House on the Treasury benches on that day. Both opposition parties paid tributes to the help that Mr. Coates had given them, and to the sportsmanlike manner in which he had taken the decision of the House.

Mr. Speaker (the Hon. Sir Charles Statham) reported to the House that he had visited his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, who had accepted the decision of the Hous:, and would take steps toward the formation of a new administration. The Right Hon. J. G. Coates, speaking as Prime Minister for almost the last time, said that he would take the course of tendering the resignation of rhe Government as soon as it was convenient to the Governor-General. There was at present world-wide anxiety about the illness of his Majesty the King, and the New Zealand Parliament’s consideration for his condition should be placed on record. Therefore he moved that the members in Parliament assembled desired to express their loyal and sincere sympathy in the illness of the King, and the fervent hope that his Majesty might soon be restored to complete health and strength. This motion would be «onveyed to his Excellency the Governor-General. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward cordially seconded the motion, and said that it would be a calamity, from the point of view of not only the British Empire, but also of the whole civilised world, should anything happen to a King who had so ingratiated himself in the hearts of his subjects. No doubt a resolution of sympathy from the Parliament of New Zealand, to which country he was very much attached, would be a comfort to him in his illness. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the habour Party, also heartily supported the motion, which embodied the sympathies of every section of the country. He hoped that his Majesty would be speedily restored to his family circle. His sympathy went out to the King and the Royal family in their hours of trial. When the motion had been passed, Mr. Coates moved that the House adjourn until Tuesday next, at 2.30. Sir Joseph Ward then thanked Mr. Coates for the offer of help he had made during the course of his address in the morning. The speech had been, if he might say so. a very good one. He acknowledged the help that Air.

Coates had given him in the past, r.nd said that he had filled honourably the position of Prime Minister. Such times as the present came to every man in political life. When the House assembled on Tuesday. continued Sir Joseph, he would make some very important statements. At the moment he was not in a position to say whether another session would have to be held soon. He wanted to avoid it, but it depended upon whether the members agreed to his proposals. He would explain the methods necessary to get the authority to carry out his programme. Mr. H. E. Holland said that, while there was a gulf wide and deep between the party Mr. Coates represented and the one the speaker had the l-.onour to lead, his party wished to acknowledge the manner in fvhich Mr. Coates had fully and freely met it on many occasions. In the House they had to fight with the gloves off at times, but outsido the Chamber they were the best of friends. A fighter loved a fighter. He congratulated Mr. Coates on the way in which he had received the decision of the House. Never had Mr. Coates appeared to better advantage, even in his hour of victory, w than in the present of defeat. He had been a sportsman. On behalf of the Maori "ace. Sir Apixsi Ngata acknowledged the help and work that Mr. Coates had given. ''•'p-ying, Me Coates, in his final Prime Ministerial speech, exhibited some emotion. The generous remarks made about him, he said, were rather unexpected. Judging from what had been said on the platform, he had not thought things would be like this. •! Laughter.) H_* sincerely thank-d all for t»*eir express'ons of 5c »dwili, and hofed that he and his opponents would a)w: vs be frienus out of the House. One of the charms of politics was 1 lie friendship of members outside the Cli-rr He would always he willing tv assist Sir Apirana Ngata and the Maori peopTc to the best of his ability. * On Tuesday he would make a short staler..ent as to the attitude of the Reform Party in regard to the new ad n.lustration. lie hoped that the House and the country would benefit f'"> n the new Government.