THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1926. THE PREMIER'S HOMECOMING.

Wairarapa Age, 15 February 1927, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1926. THE PREMIER'S HOMECOMING.

People in all parts of the Dominion will echo and endorse the hearty welcome extended to the Prime Minister on his arrival at Wellington yesterday. It is the general verdict that in representing New Zealand at his first Imperial Conference, Mr. Coates rendered good and able service and built up his reputation as a progressive political leader, capable of bold initiative. In what he had to say on landing yesterday, the Prime Minister made it clear that ho has come back with definite ideas about strengthening and developing our connection with Great Britain and other Empire countries. In the allimportant matter of consultation on foreign policy, he already has to his credit the creation of the nucleus of an organisation that should enable this country to get into much mere effective touch with Britain on questions of mutual concern than is at present possible. The further proposals in this category which Mr. Coates intends to, submit to his colleagues will be awaited with much interest.

As might bo expected, the Prime Minister has returned from his Imperial mission with quickened ideas regarding trade and economic develop-

ment, the application of science to industry, and cognate questions. It is thoroughly characteristic of the man and his outlook that although he is well aware that the Dominion is faced at present by some immediate problems and difficulties, notably in the matter of unemployment, he declines to be in any way depressed by the outlook. In what he had to say about our national prospects in a speech in. Wellington yesterday, the Prime Minister struck a note of buoyant optimism. This is the right note, coming as it did from a leader who has shown at all times an exceptional readiness to tackle the problems of the day with a determination to bring them as rapidly as possible to solution. New Zealanders ‘will look confidently to the Prime Minister for an effective lead in dealing with the present troubles of unemployment, as well as with larger problems of which passing unemployment is merely a surface symptom.