PRIME MINISTER BACK FROM ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 259, 29 July 1937, Page 10

PRIME MINISTER BACK FROM ENGLAND

Cordial Welcomes NUMEROUS MESSAGES OF goodwill The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, returned to Wellington yesterday afternoon by the Rangitata from his visit to England, where, 'With the Minister of Finance and Marketing, Hon. W. Nash, and the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, he represented New Zealand at the Coronation celebrations and at the Imperial Conference. Enthusiastic receptions were accorded Mr. Savage ou his return from his first Imperial Conference, and on coming ashore he found awaiting him a large number of messages of goodwill from till parts of the Dominion. Mr. Savage received his first welcome from” his Ministerial colleagues and friends. A party, which included Major A. Purvis, who represented the Gover-nor-General, Viscount Galway, the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, and other members of the Ministry, and the president of the New Zealand Labour Party, Mr. Janies Roberts, went out in the Janie Sodden to meet the Rangitata down the harbour. As the Janie Seddon drew alongside the liner, Mr. Savage stood on the upper deck of the ship waving to the welcoming party, which reciprocated with cheers for the Prime Minister. After the doctor and Customs officials had ascended the gangway, Major Purvis was the first to go aboard to welcome Mr. Savage on behalf of his Excellency. He was followed by Mr. Fraser and tlie remaining members of the party. Further cheers were given for Mr. Savage on the Rangitata, from where he also broadcast a brief message expressing appreciation of the welcome extended to him and stating how pleased he was to be once again back in New Zealand, As the Rangitata drew alongside th© wharf, where there was a large crowd, including members of Parliament and heads of State departments, the Prime Minister received a railway welcome by the prolonged whistling of locomotives in the railway yards. Amid further cheering and applause, Mr. Savage descended the gangway to receive a welcome from the Wellington Harbour Board. He took his place on the stand in the adjoining wharf shed amid the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Another enthusiastic reception was accorded the Prime Minister when he attended the Town Hall last night for the civic welcome on behalf of the Wellington City Council and the citizens of Wellington. To-day Mr. Savage will be welcomed by a caucus in the morning, and in the afternoon by a gathering of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Mr. Savage was accompanied on his return from England by the permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department, Mr. C. A. Berendsen, and Mrs. Berendsen, the Prime Minister’s chief private secretary, Mr. C. A. Jeffery, and Mrs. Jeffery, and by the chief messenger of the Prime Minister’s Department, Mr. A. L. Lewis.

Full reports of yesterday’s welcomes appear on page 12.