NEWS RECEIVED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1936, Page 10

NEWS RECEIVED

NOT UNEXPECTED

ATTENDING TO DETAILS

News of the death of his Majesty was received in the Prime Minister's office at five minutes to one, and was immediately communicated to the Hon. M; J. Savage, who at the time was hearing a private deputation. When interviewed a few minutes afterwards he was obviously very profoundly moved by the news, and for some time did "not commit himself to words. He conferred with members of his staff and then ■ issued a statement on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand paying tribute to the late King. The announcement, in view of earlier discouraging messages, was not altogether unexpected, but throughout the whole morning there was -a definable tenseness about things in the Prime Minister's office with those in close touch with the position waiting anxiously for the final message that they were practically certain would come through. . Rumours that his Majesty had passed away were rife earlier in the morning, and there were frequent telephone inquiries asking if these rumours were true. . Immediately on the receipt of the news Government officials were busy with the formalities attendant on suqh a sad occasion, and within a few minutes all Government offices throughout New Zealand had been advised to fly their New Zealand ensigns at half-mast, draw the blinds of the offices, and close down for the rest of the day as from 1.30 p.m. Within a minute of the news coming to hand, the flags were up on the first of the Government buildings in Wellington. The manner in which the position was met and immediate details: attended to was a marvel of efficiency and team work. Wires were immediately sent out to the Island dependencies with, instructions similar to those issued to the Government Departments in New Zealand.