MR. SAVAGE SAILS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 155, 29 March 1937, Page 8

MR. SAVAGE SAILS

Visit to London For Coronation ANIMATED SCENES ON WHARF 3000 People Watch Arawa’s Departure In pleasant circumstances the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, left Wellington by the Arawa on Saturday night to represent New Zealand at the King's coronation and the Imperial Conference. He was given a memorable farewell. It was estimated that, close on 3000 persons were assembled to bid bon voyage to the Prime Minister, his party and the New Zealand cricketers, who also sailed for England in the same ship. The night was perfect, a full Easter moon lighting the scene from a mottled sky. Mr. Savage went down to the ship early, and after seeing his cabin, made his way to tlie boat-deck, where be was joined by the acting-Prime Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, and his colleagues of the Ministry. Also with him were members of the Legislative Council, representatives of various trades unions, delegates to the Easter conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, and others who had gone on board to wish him bon voyage. Other members of tlie official party were the secretary of tlie Treasury, Mr. G. C. Rodda, M.8.E., Mr. C. A. Berendsen, C.M.G., Permanent Head of the Prime Minister’s Department, and Mr. C. A. Jeffery, C.M.G., Chief Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and clerk of' the Executive Council. They were accompanied by their wives. Also present were tlie heads of State departments and members of the Ministerial private secretarial corps. Among the full complement of passengers were tlie three delegates of the New Zealand branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association, Messrs. E. J. Howard, F. IV. Schramm and W, J. Broadfoot, M.l’.’s. Mrs. Broadfoot accompanied her husband. “My Heart is With You.” With sailing time near, the Prime Minister stepped forward to the rail and addressed the assembly on the wharf. “Ladies and gentlemen." lie said, ‘‘although I am on board this ship my heart is witli you. I am looking forward to the time when 1 will be with you in Wellington again. I thank you for your presence here tonight. and it is an indication that one goes abroad with tlie goodwill of thousands of New Zealand citizens.” At tlie bidding of the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who. witli other Ministers, was standing with Mr. Sav.age, tlie throng below them sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.” A man climbed a crane and handed Mr. Savage a red streamer, whicli tlie Prime Minister smilingly accepted. it parted, however, before his weliwisher had regained the wharf.

Meantime members of the Arawa’s crew h.ad gathered in force on the forecastle deck. Infected witli tlie spirit of the occasion, they sang concertedly to the accompaniment of mouth-organs. After Mr. Savage had spoken to his friends from the deck, a seaman who had obviously made the most of his shore leave harangued the crowd on a political theme, much to the amusement of the Primo Minister and his colleagues of Cabinet. A voice from tlie wharf shouted up at the Prime Minister. “Let's sing the 'Red Flag.’ ” but there was no response. For the “Internationale” someone promptly substituted "Auld Lang Syne,” tlie crowd enthusiastically taking up the refrain.

“Ask a Policeman.”

While the ship’s lines were being cast off and the onlookers realised that tlie Arawa would be away in a few moments, a stentorian voice hailed the Prime Minister with the advice, “If you want to know anything in London, ask a policeman.” Mr. Savage replied: “All right, brother. I’ll remember that.” An interlude that pleased Mr. Savage's friends was bis joining hands witli a uniformed steward who had boldly come to tlie side of Hie Primo Minister to bask iu file reflected glory. Among the last to leave the ship were Hie Ministers, who conferred with Hie Prime Minister before grasping ills "hand in farewell. Mr. Fraser, as Minister of Marine, had earlier taken opportunity informally to inspect the crew’s quarters. Final Leave-taking. Three hoarse blasts of the Arawa’s whistle as the signal for final leavetaking brought roars of cheering from the thousands looking up at the liner. Mr. Savage raised his hand and for a moment there was silence .as the ship began to move slowly astern. “Goodbye,” be called. “I’ll be back about the end of July and I will be glad to see your smiling faces again.”

A tumult of cheering broke out anew, Mr. Savage smiling his thanks. Gathering momentum, the Arawa backed out into tlie moonlit pool by the city quays for tlie turn on her course down harbour. Streamers were split with the widening gap between ship and shore and fell in multi-coloured masses at the feet of the crowd or hung festooned from the rail, giving tlie brilliantlylighted Arawa the semblance of a vast gondola gliding effortlessly at a Venetian carnival.