MR. SAVAGE AT WANGANUI

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22429, 16 June 1938, Page 12

MR. SAVAGE AT WANGANUI

TOUR IN NORTH ISLAND CONTINUED VISIT TO PA AT RATANA (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WANGANUI, June 15. Cordial receptions have been accorded the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in every locality visited in the Wanganui district. Mr Savage arrived at Marton for lunch today and came on from there to the school at Turakina, where, after a brief address to the children, he travelled to the Ratana pa and saw the famous Ratana temple and the museum •of quaint Maori relics. He was greeted by lusty singing at the Ratana School and was afterwards accorded a typical Ratana welcome from the 500 natives assembled in the meeting house and headed by Mr T. W. Ratana. After leaving the pa Mr Savage, who was accompanied by the Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb), motored to the Eastown railway workshops, and there, to the accompaniment of the shops’ brass band, received another warm welcome. There was a packed audience at the Opera House to meet the Prime Minister and hear his eulogy of the Government. Mr Savage referred to the Government’s social security scheme, saying that it was his intention to extend it eventually to include all sections of the community. Naturally it was only right to start at the lower end of the wage scale, and 80 per cent, of the people would come under the scheme as at present constituted. “The other 20 per cent, will not,” said Mr Savage, “and good luck to them.” At each meeting Mr Savage made it dear that he was not present to talk politics but to meet the people as a friend. RECEPTIONS AT MARTON AND BULLS (press association telegram.) MARTON. June 15. On their tour the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and the Hon. p. C. Webb were accorded a reception at the Civic Theatre. Marton. at noon to-day, f. flowed by a luncheon tendered by the Labour Committee, d 2 p.m. for the Turakina and Fordell public works camps en route to Wanganui. .Mr Savage in his address emphasised the humanitarian aspirations of the Government and expressed his own desire to be “a friend of the people.” In particular, he said, he desired to see the children given a fair deal, and referred to the ec’.ucation reforms proposed.. Mr Webb outlined the social security proposals and paid a tribute to Mr Ormond Wilson, M.P. for Rangitikei, whom no one could accuse of seeking Parliamentary honours for the sake of a job.

Cheers were then given for Mr Savage, mingled with some booing at the back of the hall. The party mingled informally with the people unlu lunch. During the reception at Bulls, Mr Savage promised to build a new bridge over the Rangitikei river, an undertaking previously held up because of the steel shortage, but the Government was now trying to gain control of the' steel industry in the Dominion. “We never make a promise we don’t carry out, 4 but Rome was not built in a day,” Mr Savage added. 4 MANAWATU SQHOOLS VISITED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) PALMERSTON NORTH, June 15. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), accompanied by the Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb), continued his tour this morning, visiting schools at Bunnythorpe and Taonui, where yesterday’s scenes of enthusiasm were repeated. They later went to Halcombe, Kakariki, and Marton.