MR. SAVAGE’S MISSION

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 155, 29 March 1937, Page 10

MR. SAVAGE’S MISSION

Labour Party Social at Parliament House

PRESENTATIONS MADE Farewell to Prime Minister and Colleagues A well-filled wallet from the Labour members of Parliament, a brace of pipes from the Wellington waterside workers, a cutty briar, carved by Maori craftsmen, a “Rangatira” walkingstick from the native tribes of New Zealand, and an inlaid casket from a Gisborne family of well-wishers were given to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, at a farewell gathering at Parliament House on Saturday afternoon, before his departure by the Arawa for' the coronation and the Imperial conference. There was a remarkable demonstration of goodwill. Gifts were presented also to the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who will leave Wellington on April 6 for Geneva, and Mrs. Armstrong, who will accompany her husband : and to Mr. E. G. Howard. M.P. for Christchurch South and Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives, and Mr. F. W. Schramm. M.P. for Auckland East, both of whom were leaving for'London as guests of the Empire Parliamentary Association. Close on COO members of the Labour Party and its supporters from all over New Zealand attended the function in the social room at Parliament House. It was Arranged by the Labour members of Parliament, with Mr. R. McKeen, member for Wellington South, as organiser. The acting-Prime Minister Hon. P. Fraser, and Mrs. Fraser, supported by Mr. and Mrs. R. McKeen and Mr. and Mrs. J. O’Brien (Westland), acted as host and hostess. The room was decorated with flowers, and music was provided by Mr. L. de Manny’s orchestra, which included 30 members of the Musicians’ Union.

When Mr. Savage arrived there was sustained cheering, followed by the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.’’

After tea had been served, the Acting Prime Minister, on behalf of his Ministerial colleagues and Labour members of Parliament, welcomed the guests, making special reference to the delegates to the Labour Party’s Easter conference in Wellington. He explained the purpose of the gathering and paid tribute to the service rendered to the party in Parliament and to the country by their Leader, Mr. Savage, and by Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Howard, and Mr. Schramm. For the first time in the history of New Zealand a Labour Prime Minister was to represent the country at a coronation ans an Imperial Conference. t "Reward for Hard Work.” The Labour Party had known many trying times, and there still would be trying times, continued Mr. Fraser, but the position to-day was such that it represented some reward for the years of hard work that had been necessary to build up the party. "Mr. Savage was selected Leader of the Government of New Zealand’s first Labour Government just less than 15 months ago,” said Mr. Fraser. "I do not want to talk in any exaggerated terms, but speaking in all humility, and sincere humility at that, I still want to say that I know of no Government anywhere else in the world that has done so much for the benefit of the masses of the people as this Government has done.”

Referring to the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser said that the presence of a great number of friends was an indication of how much they respected him, how much they loved him. and how much they were bound to him by his great work. They wished him the greatest possible measure of success in Ills mission, and they knew how well he would serve his country abroad.

'Many Presentations.

On behalf of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Mr. Fraser presented in turn a gold-mounted and inscribed wallet to Mr. Savage, to Mr. Armstrong, and to Mr. Howard, a New Zealand-made travelling rug to Mr. Schramm, 3ml a pearl necklace and cabin cushion fo Mi-s. Armstrong. This was followed by a. number of unofficial presentations. Mr. Johnston, on behalf of the AVellinglon waterside workers, presented a case of pipes to Mr. Savage, and expressed the watersiders’ good wishes. .Air. D. W. Coleman, M.P. for Gisborne, presented to Mr. Savage from .a Gisborne family of wellwishers, whose names were not disclosed, a beautiful casket of inlaid New Zealand woods, comprising 1246 separate pieces. Mr. H. T. Ratana, Labour Maori M.P.. on behalf of Maori friends, presented to Mr. Savage from all the Maori tribes a carved walking-stick, handsomely designed and embellished, and a carved briar pipe. The president of the New Zealand Labour Party, Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P. for Timaru, expressed I lie goodwill of the party toward tbe Prime Minister and his colleagues. Be recalled that in the past every Prime Minister who went Home to an Imperial Conference no'longer remained a politician but became a statesman. AA’ith regard to Mr. Savage, they felt it was not necessary for him to go to Great Britain to become a statesman or to be recognised as such. The Labour Party had always contended that before any representative of the Government went Home to tell other peoples and countries what they should do, he should first set his own house in order as far a.s domestic problems were concerned. On this occasion New Zealand’s delegates could say with truth that a great deal had been done to set the New Zealand house in order and that a great deal more would be done.

The People and Hie Government

Air. Savage had fo wail; some time before be could reply owing fo the prolonged cheering. When the opportunity camp he thanked the party and his friends for their handsome gifts and for their great kindness. He assured the waterside workers that he would not let them down. Nor would he and the Government forget the Maori race and its need of help in development.

“We came in here with the confidence of the people of New Zealand.” said the Prime Minister. "I think we have deserved that confidence np till now, and it is np to ns to continue to deserve if. Unless wo keep doing that, we have no right Io approach and toll other people what they should do. We must he aide to go to any other country and say, ‘This is what we have done. This i.s what we are going to do.’ Wo have an overwhelming majority in the House. We claim that wo have the goodwill of the great mass of the people In Now Zealand, and we are ! going to keep if. That is our story Io the conference, and that ia our story to

the world. Tbe people have done their part, and it. is up fo us to do tbe rest, t challenge anyone Io show me the same amount licit has been done lor Hie people in. so short a'lime in any other part of the world. And it will not rest there. The work will go on. That i.< all flint is Io be said about it.” Brief speeches wore made by Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Howard and Mr. ,Schramm.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. W. E. Barnard, announced that he had received from Mr. McLaughlan, Rotorua, a very fine photograph of the late leader of the party, Mr. Harry Holland, which had already been hung in the corridor of Parliament House and which could now be inspected. The Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, gave an emphatic assurance that while the Prime Minister and his colleagues were abroad the Government would go straight ahead with its work.

The parly before dispersing had a group photograph taken on the front steps of Parliament House,