SUDDEN DEATH FROM HEART SEIZURE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1943, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATH FROM HEART SEIZURE

In Office at Parliament Buildings LATE MINISTER TO BE GIVEN STATE AND MILITARY FUNERAL HOUSE ADJOURNED UNTIL NEXT WEEK (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The death occurred suddenly soon after 4 o’clock yesterday , afternoon of the Minister of Armed Forces ami War Co-ordina-tion the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. The news of his end, winch became known almost immediately throughout Parliament Buildings, cames as a profound shock to everyone. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, who was informed at once, advised the members of the Parliamentary Labour I arty then & caucus. They carried a motion of sympathy with Airs Coates and the members of the family, and then adjourned as a mark of respect.

FATAL INDISPOSITION Mr Coates collapsed in his office at Parliament House and was dead before medical aid arrived. He was apparently in normal health till shortly after lunch, but in the mid-afternoon complained of pains in the chest. His secretary, Miss H. D. Montague, suggested that she call a doctor, but Mr Coates replied that he would soon be all right. However, the indisposition persisted, and Mr Coates went out in the grounds of Parliament Buildings to obtain some benefit from a blow of fresh air. Meantime Miss Montague had sent for a cup of tea for him, but on his return he said he did not want it. She then thought it advisable to call a doctor. Mr Coates went into his office to continue with his work. Immediately afterward, when Miss Montague entered his roc-m, she said Mr Coates fell to the floor. Mr J. N. Massey, M.P. for Franklin, who had come to see Mr Coates, quickly joined Miss Montague to render assistance. Medical assistance was forthcoming in a few minutes with the arrival of the Director-General of Medical Ser-

vices, Brigadier F. T. Bowerbank, who j came from Army Headquarters, and Dr. Martin Tweed soon afterward. ; They found that nothing could be - done for Mr Coates. Death was appar- , ently the result of a heart seizure. I Mr Coates is to be given a State i funeral. Immediately after Mr Coates’s death ■ steps were taken to postpone the introduction of the Budget, which was to hawf been presented in the House of Representatives last night. The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, announced that on account of the death , of Mr Coates all activities in connec- , tion with the proposed war loan would be suspended till after the funeral. PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS All Pariliamentary business, including the presentation of the Budget, was postponed as a mark of respect to Mr Coates. When the House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.m., the Prime Minister moved that the House adjourn till 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, and it rose after a sitting of a few minutes, in which Mr Fraser and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, spoke briefly, but with evidently deep feeling. “In view of the sudden, sad and tragic passing away of the Rt. Hon. Mr Coates, and in view of the great loss that the country has sustained by his death, I think it is fitting that this House should not proceed with any further business but should adjourn,” said the Prime Minister. “Fitting references will be made to the life and work of this great statesman on a future occasion.” “May I say in a sentence how I and every member on these benches share in the sense of sorrow which is felt by everyone at the sad passing of Mi’ Coates,” said Mr Holland. BUDGET NEXT THURSDAY The Prime Minister subsequently stated that the customary tributes to the late Minister would be paid when the House resumed next Wednesday. After the motion of sympathy was adopted the House would rise and resume on Thursday. The Budget and departmental estimates would be presented in the House on Thursday night. FUNERAL PLANS PREMIER’S ANNOUNCEMENT. HIGHEST POSSIBLE HONOURS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.' WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced last night that a State funeral with full military honours would be accorded Mr Coates. Arrangements for the funeral had not been completed, he said, but a service would be held in Wellington and the body would lie in State under a military guard in the vestibule of Parliament Buildings from about noon on Saturday till Sunday afternoon. It was the desire of the Government, and undoubtedly that, of the people also, to accord the highest possible honours to the late distinguished statesman.