INDEX TO NEWS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22983, 1 April 1940, Page 8

INDEX TO NEWS

Page. LEADING ARTICLES .. 6 Allied Solidarity. M. Molotov’s Speech. PERSONAL ITEMS .. 6 CABLE MESSAGES .. 7 NEWS BY PICTURES .. 12 FINANCE AND COMMERCE 9 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 12 SPORTING - _ -.10 GENERAL— Golf ..3 Hawarden Show .. 5 Palestine To-day ~ 6 . Mr Savage Buried at Auckland .. 6 Enlistments-in City .. 8 Accidents . " .. 8 Methvsh Sho|v .. 11 RiSe-Shooting . • 11 Magistrate’s Court .. H Broadcasting .. 12 SHIPPING .. . 9 MAIL NOTICES .. 9 THE WEATHER .. 9 POR. WOMEN .. 2

Many stations were solemnly draped with black and purple crepe, and simply but tastefully decorated with willows and other greenery. There were many assemblies of boy scouts, boys’ brigades, and boys and girls from schools and colleges. Military and Air Force parades, and musters of railwayman and members of other Government services and of the St. John Ambulance units were held - at different points. Fitting hymns, such as “Abide With Me” and “Nearer My God to Thee,” were played by municipal and other bands and sung fervently by crowds. Masses of wreaths were presented all along the line and at a number of places Maori mats were laid on the coffin. From the time the train left Wellington, there were ever-changing tableaux of wayside scenes. Traditional Maori greetings and laments were extended at Otaki and Levin, illustrating the esteem in which Mr Savage, who was also Minister for Native Affairs, was held, and similar, full-throated expressions, accompanied b; hakas and . other Maori ritual, marked many stages of the journey. At Palmerston North, where a solid mass of people extended from the station to Terrace End, the Maori Battalion was on the platform. The stay of 10 minutes originally scheduled for the city was extended to half an hour, so great was the number wishing to contribute wreaths and humbly salute the coffin. As the train slowly crossed the Square, thousands more lining the route silently expressed the depth of their sorrow. As the train quickened pace and sped past homesteads and farmlands there was' no diminution in the scattered groups of mourners at gates and on the roadside. At lonely crossings people of all ages stood bareheaded waiting reverently for the train.: There was an unrehearsed stop between Palmerston North and Feilding, where, out of consideration for a group of Maoris waving garlands, the train was halted and the Maoris’ tribute was acknowledged by Mr Tirikatene. Brief reference to Mr Savage’s ideals and-work for the common weal was made at several stations by members pf local bodies. The Hon. P. Fraser responded. Mr E. T. Tirikatene, M.P., who-was with the official party on the trains 'acknowledged Maori 1 salutations at various ;plases and also acted as interpreter.;'? f~ , . ‘ Maori Tribute / At Marton there was a scene of colourful ceremony when a message of love and condolence was read from Mr H. T. Ratana, M.P., on the occasion of “the body of our great leader going from this world light unto world night,” and when a mat was deposited on the coffin. Taihape provided another memorable scene, and thus the train sped on through the night, homage symbolic of the people’s love for Mr Savage being paid afresh as new towns were reached. ' The scenes at night at Ohakune, National Park, Raurimu, and Tauma-. runui were also characterised by colourful Maori observances which were particularly picturesque, and mats were presented on behalf of the Ohakune Maoris and the Tauwharetoa Maoris (National Park). The train pulled out from Ohakune with the silver crosses on the mortuary van etched against a sombre background and amid the haunting strains of “Holy Night!” In addition to the crowds packing the Taumarunui station, which was reached shortly after 11 p.m., there was a large gathering with a band in attendance when the journey was resumed at 7 a.m. to-day. At Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Te Awamutu, Frankton Junction, Ngaruawahia, Huntly, Pukekohe,. and other points, people congregated to pay their respects. The train slowed to pass Hopu Hopu military camp, where troops lined the route. A feature of the Huntly ceremony was when a young Maori maiden, a member of the Maori Royal Family, took a mat from her own shoulders and in a dignified and reverent manner laid it on the coffin. The broad sweep of the Waitemata harbour came, into view, and the hills of Orakei, with. Bastion Point jutting into the waters. Every conceivable vantage point of the Auckland railway station was darkened with .spectators. Thus, amid the visible blessings of tens of thousands alongside the route 'from Wellington onward, and the blessings of unseen hundreds of thousands in all parts of New Zealand, did Michael Joseph Savage return to his adopted home. Arrival at Auckland There was only a small official party on the platform when the funeral train bringing Mr Savage’s body home slowly drew into the Auckland rail-way-station at 2.15 this afternoon. After the body had been received by representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the coffin was borne in solemn procession through. the station concourse to a waiting gun-carriage at the main entrance. The reception of the funeral train was the most private part of the day’s ceremonies. . The public was not admitted to the station, which in contrast to the crowded streets, was strangely deserted. Awaiting the train on the platform were Captain Lord Dormer, A.D.C., representing the Gov-erndr-General, the Minister for Public Works, thre Hon. R. Semple, the Premier of Queensland, Mr W. Forgan Smith. Bishop Liston and Roman Catholic priests, the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, Mr and Mrs D. G. Alfrey,. who were among the chief mourners. Captain W. E. Parry, MajorGeneral J. E. Duigan, Wing Commander H. B. Burrell, Captain H. M. Barnes, Colonel N. W. McD. Weir, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Mr P. K. Paikea, M.P., Superintendent of Police, Mr J. Cummings, and the acting-station-master, Mr J. E. Jones. The coffin was removed from the train by eight bearers, two each from the' Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal New Zealand Artillery, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. Bishop Liston received the body with the prayer “In Paradisum,” then, preceded by Father P. T. B. McKeefrey, bearing the Cross, and attended by Monsignor W. Ormond, Monsignor J. Cahill, Monsignor Hi Holbrook, and Monsignor T. Connolly, representing Archbishop O’Shea, the Bishop moved off at the head of the procession. On the jour-, ney down the station concourse, the psalms “De Profundis” and .“Miserere” were chanted. ' Members of the Cabinet who had travelled from Wellington with the funeral train walked on each side of

the coffin, and they were followed by other members of the official party. As the procession moved through the concourse Chopin’s Funeral March was played by the Papakura Camp Band drawn up just in front of the gun-car-riage. Brilliant sunshine and the glitter of polished arms met the Cortege when it emerged from the shadow of the station. Representing the three services, the. escort facing the entrance presented arms, and the coffin was lifted on to the gun-carriage. On one end of the coffin was a kiwi mat placed there in Wellington by Mr E. T. Tirikatene, M.P., in behalf of the Southern Maoris. Mr P. K. Paikea. M.P.. stepped forward, and draped over the other end a Highly-prized korowai mat, a tribute from the northern Maoris. “A tear from your Maori people,” he said in Maori, “Depart, O chief, depart O father.”. Captain Parry, Commander of, the Achilles, covered the coffin with the New Zealand Ensign, flown by the cruiser in the action with the German battleship Admiral Graf Spee in the Battle of the Plate. Meanwhile the official party who had carried wreaths from the train placed-them on a special motor-truck. Then, to the roll of muffled drums, the cortege set off on the last stage of the funeral, journey.