NEW ZEALANDERS IN LONDON

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22120, 16 June 1937, Page 9

NEW ZEALANDERS IN LONDON

TRIBUTE PAID TO PRIME MINISTER MR SAVAGE'S SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY (UOTTED TBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIQHT.) (Received June 15, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. | An outstanding gathering of the New Zealand Society's career was the Coronation dinner and ball at the Savoy Hotel. Four hundred i were present. j The High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan), proposing the health of the guest of honour, Mr Savage, said no man more worthy had reached his goal. His impelling desire was to be of service and assistance to his generation. No one was more fitted to lead the Government, because he was animated by sympathy, sincerity, and ability. He had given weighty assistance to the Imperial Conference and had fruitfully served not only the Dominion but the Empire. Mr Savage, responding, said Mr Jordan and he doubtless were once regarded as lunatics, but people were beginning to realise that there was something in what they advocated. "New Zealand owes a lot to Britain," Mr Savage added. "Some newspapers say we are not good enough to live up to our responsibility. I challenge such people in years to come to say we let them down. We will honour every obligation. We only ask for a fair deal." The Government's was a simple philosophy, he continued. Every shilling Britain spent in New Zealand was a shilling with which to buy British manufactures. Nothing aroused greater enthusiasm than Mr Savage's reference to the presence of the New Zealand cricketers, who, he said, had not disgraced New Zealand but had shown how to play a great game.

FREEDOM OF LONDON HONOUR CONFERRED ON MR SAVAGE ! GUESTS AT MANSION HOUSE LUNCHEON LONDON, June 14. In the presence of the Secretary of State for the Dominions (Mr Malcolm Mac Donald), Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Miss Ishbel Mac Donald, the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King), the High Commissioner for Australia (Mr S. Mf Bruce), and the High Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr W. J. Jordan), the freedom of the City of London was conferred upon the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. A. Lyons) and the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Savage) by the Court of the Common Council at the Guildhall. There was a strange mistake at the outset, the principal clerk, Sir Adrian Pollock, the City Chamberlain and Treasurer, describing Mr Savage as the Prime Minister of Canada. Both guests received a dainty gold casket containing a document conferring the freedom of the city on them. Mr Savage alluded to the Coronation manifestations and the people's love of the King and Queen, as well as their endorsement of the democratic form of government. He hoped that the Empire's commercial ties would be strengthened in the future. "Proud to be a Freeman" Mr Savage added that London's greatness made him prouder to be its freeman. New Zealand had introduced more human legislation than any country, and she would be even more progressive in the future. The guests at the Guildhall, also included the New Zealand Minister for Finance and Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) and Mrs Nash, Sir James Parr and Miss Parr, and the Agents-General. A luncheon in the Egyptian Room of the Mansion House followed. The Lord Mayor (Sir George Broadbridge), proposing the toast of the new freemen, declared that London was delighted to honour men who had thrown self aside and devoted their lives to the service of the nation. It was largely because of the' quality of such men that the Empire was so well governed. Mr Savage said that if Mr Lyons and himself had made happier those countries and the people who had sent them to London they would have done their duty. "Whether I am Prime Minister or just working for a living—Prime Ministers do not work for a living, they just take it when it comes—it makes no difference; I shall always be indebted to those associated with me," added Mr Savage. "My sole desire is to make the British people understand."