DEEP REGRET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1940, Page 8

DEEP REGRET.

FEDERAL PREMIER.

Commonwealth Ministers Pay

Respects.

GREAT FIGURE BEHOVED.

Ualted Prees Association. —Copjri«ht,

(Beceived 10.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

• tribnte to Mr. Savage at the convention of the United Australia party, sitting in Sydney, the Prime Minister/ Mr. R. G. Menzies, said: "Mr. Savage was British. His Government is British- He brought honesty and great devotion to the publie service of his eonntry. "Although Mn Savage wa* not of onr, party end he had been associated with many matters of acute controversy, in relation to the graver issues that overshadowed all other issues hie position was completely unambiguous," he added. "During the past 12 months it ias been my privilege to work in the closest contact with the New Zealand Government on matters of common interest,; namely,: the task :of winning the war,, and, together with the Commonwealth Ministry, I share the deep regret at the passing o< one of the most picturesque and humane figures in the political life of our sister Dominion."

The delegates, ae a mark of respect, stood in silence, and the convention decided to cable its deepest sympathy to Mr. Savage's relatives and the Dominion Government.

Mr. W. M. Hughes, Federal AttorneyGeneral, and Australia's former wartime Prime Minister, expressed Lid deep and most sincere regret at Mr. Savage's death, whereby, he eaid,.a great figure had baen removed from public life in New Zealand and the Empire.

Mr. Savage was a man of high ideals and indomitable who had coneecrated his life to the service of his fellow-men.

The people of New, Zealand would deeply mourn-his death, for they had loet a leader whom they not onlv trusted but loved. y