MR. SAVAGE’S MISSION TO LONDON

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 8

MR. SAVAGE’S MISSION TO LONDON

Departure To-night

SOCIAL FAREWELL BY LABOUR PARTY

Over 500 representatives of the New Zealand Labour Party and various organisations will tender a social farewell at Parliament House this afternoon to the Prime Minister, Kt. Hon. M. J. Savage, who will leave Wellington by the liner Arawa to-night. It is understood that the Easter assembly of Mr. Savage's friends and supporters of the Labour Government from all over the Dominion will make a presentation to the Prime Minister as evidence of goodwill toward him personally and appreciation of his services as a leader. There also will be an expression of confidence in him as the leader of the New Zealand delegation to London.

Mr. Savage is making his first trip to Great Britain, and he will be the first Labour Prime Minister to represent New Zealand either at a coronation or at au Imperial Conference. The other members of the delegation are:— Mr. C. A. Berendsen, C.M.G., Permanent Head of the Prime Minister's Department: Mr. C. A. Jeffery, C.M.G., Chief Private Secretary and Clerk of tlie Executive Council; Mr. G. C. Rodda, M.8.E., Secretary to the Treasury.

Mesdames Berendsen, Jeffery and Rodda will accompany their busbands, but not, of course, as official members of tlie party. Mr. A. E. Lewis, special messenger to tlie Prime Minister’s Department, will also make the trip. While at the Imperial Conference the Prime Minister will have associated with him the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, Mr. AV. J. Jordan, and the Minister of Finance and Marketing, Hon. AV. Nash, who has been actively engaged in Great Britain since early in November last. The Arawa is due to reach London on May 1. Advices from the British Government indicate that the preliminary work of the Imperial Conference will begin almost immediately after the arrival of the delegations from the various members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, but the main discussions will not open until a few days .after the coronation on May 12.

No arrangements have yet been made as to the date of the Prime Minister’s return or the route back to New Zealand. It is anticipated in political circles that Mr. Savage will not remain a day longer in Great Britain than is necessary and that, in all likelihood, he will come back by the shortest route. Ministers and members of Parliament expect the next session of tlie Legislature to begin about the middle of August. A. formidable legislative programme is already assured. Among the Arawa's full list of passengers are three representatives of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Parliamentary Association, who will attend the coronation and other ceremonies in London as guests of the British members of tlie association. They are Mr. E. J. Howard, Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives, and M.P. for Christchurch .South; Mr. AV. J. Broadfoot, M.P. for Waitomo and Opposition Junior Whip; Mr. F. W. Schramm, Labour M.P. for Auckland East. The fourth New Zealand representative of the association, Hon. J. A. Hanan, Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, is well on the way to London. Mrs. Broadfoot will accompany her husband.