MR. SAVAGE'S TOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1938, Page 10

MR. SAVAGE'S TOUR

"ROSES ALL THE WAY"

GRATITUDE EXPRESSED

GOOD-WILL MISSION

Gratitude for the receptions accorded him on his tour last week of electorates in the southern half of the North Island was expressed by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview today. He emphasised that it was not a vote-catching tour but a good-will mission with the object of meeting the people face to face and learning their needs and the scope for development.

"It is not easy for me to give impressions of my tour without incurring a charge of egotism," said Mr. Savage. "As far as receptions went it was a case of roses all the way. I have no intention to discuss the personal side of my tour, except to express my heartfelt gratitude for the manner in which the people everywhere received me with something like an embarrassment of kindness. And that feature of the receptions is as true of the Maoris as it is of the pakehas.

"I have travelled many miles and talked to many people during my career as an advocate of the principles and philosophy of the Labour Party in New Zealand, but nothing in my' experience excels the delight and encouragement I experienced during the past seven days in the southern part of the North Island. It was my privilege to meet and speak to over 10,000 adults and 5000 school children. PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP. "The object of my tour was primarily a good will mission throughout the countryside with an occasional talk about politics in the main centres. I desire now to express my heartfelt gratitude for the manner in which the people everywhere turned out in all kinds of weather to meet me, and to make me feel that, apart from politics altogether, I had their friendship. No man in reason could ask more.

"On many occasions I wished that I had been afforded more time to see the country and the scope of its development. I heard members of the Opposition say that the districts I visited were wonderful in their resources and in their potentialities for further development. I agree. Even in winter conditions the countryside was beautiful. Here and there it seemed to me that there was scope for more settlement. I saw miles of farmlands as 'attractive as the best rural scenes in England. The roads generally are splendid, and one was able to travel some 800 miles in a week and visit scores of villages and towns without fatigue. MEETINGS FACE TO FACE. "My greatest pleasure was in meeting the people face to face," said Mr. Savage. "I was deeply impressed by the appearance of the audiences that crowded every hall during the tour. They represented contentment and prosperity. Everywhere, the local authorities were friendly, and hospitable. Moreover, they showed readiness to co-operate with my colleague, the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb), in doing something worthwhile in making an end to seasonal unemploy-. ment. Mr. Webb is sharing with the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) the task of finding work for those men who follow seasonal occupations.

"I am not going to say anything about the political significance of the tour. It may be that some of the people who welcomed me with courtesy and warm friendliness will vote against the Labour Party. They have a perfect right to vote in their own way. I did not go on a vote-catching tour. I went out to meet the people and to learn at first hand their needs and the scope for development. If there should be any political significance in the delightful experience, I, as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, will be pleased to accept the favour of the people. In the meantime I give thanks to everybody for their great kindness."

"I will say this quite definitely, that [if we had an election next week I think the Opposition would have great difficulty in * holding their present 'number in the House," Mr. Savage continued. "At certain points along the road one would find people at their gates just for the sake of having a look at the cars going past, and there seemed to be a hand wave or a wave of a handkerchief everywhere. Call it courtesy if you like, but I would say it was a little more than that. FIRST SINCE SEDDON. "At most places I visited I was told that I was the first Prime Minister who had ever paid them a visit. That in itself would naturally make an impression on people's minds, and their hearts, too. In several places I was told that I was the first Prime Minister who had visited them since Richard John Seddon. Invariably I replied that where Seddon knocked off was not a bad place for me to begin.

"I could not find anybody but friends. Friendship was extended almost without limit. And that has a foundation. It is not one man that is the foundation of it; it is the general trend of legislation, something for the people, so that they feel that they have something to hope for. They were not told that in bygone days. We are telling them that we have not done everyihing that can be done, and that we intend to keep on doing things."