Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, JULY 29th., 1937. MR. SAVAGE’S RETURN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1937, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, JULY 29th., 1937. MR. SAVAGE’S RETURN.

I’J’HE enthusiastic welcome home I extended to Mr. Savage, yesIterday, at Wellington, was shared, [in spirit, throughout the Dominion, his position as Prime Minlister,' alone, entitling him to such display of public interest and esteem. Tt is good news to learn that he looks well and that his health is the better for his travels, despite the strenuous programme he carried out when in Britain. No question of Party politics arose yesterday, and there will be a general disposition to give him time to resume the leadership, before raising partisan issues. Mr. Savage will not be misled by the generous nature of his reception, yesterday, to imagine that the nation thinks there is no cause for criticism of Labour policy and its results. On the contrary, it is doubtful if he will find 1 the country so complacent as . when he left it.

Mr. Savage has not permitted the wonders of Britain 1o lessen his own estimate of the advantages possessed by the Dominion, lie took the earliest opportunity to assure his welcomers that New Zealand was still the best of countries in which to reside. He has done his best, hitherto, to make

them pay for the privilege. He also paid high tributes to his Ministerial colleagues, declaring he

met none Avho ranked higher, during his travels. Another Prime Minister, Disraeli, once declared that when indulging in flattery, it Avas Avell to use a trowel. From Avhen they assumed office, Labour leaders have publicly expressed many a time their admiration for each other, and their inferential superiority’ to all Avho have gone before. This insistence Avould be claimed by psychologists to be inspired by an inferiority complex, but the Labour claims make good publicity; or they did at first. Mr. Savage’s review of his experiences at the Imperial Conference had to be discreet, owing to the confidential nature of some of the proceedings. He revealed no secrets, but his belief that if placed in any tight corner, Britain could successfullv deal Avith the

contingency was re-assuring, as was his statement that if attack were made on Britain, the Overseas would repeat the support given in 1914-18. There seems to be no serious disunity in Empire councils. 3ft’. Savage, apparently, made economics his chief card at the Conference, and some of his play was not endorsed by the other delegates. He hoped to be as a. bracing breeze, whereas it is possible he was regarded by some as a. disturbing draught. His belief that the calling of a, world conference to discuss economics would remove the Avar bogey, is naive. If international conferences could guarantee Avorth-while results, the Avorld Avould have fcAv serious troubles remaining. It need not be doubted that the Imperial Conference was all the better for having present one who Avould not necessarily accept conventional outlooks, and Avho Avould insist on Labour ideals being given duo prominence. It would be a mistake, however, to over-estimate the influence of this attitude. Mr. Savage Avas in no yielding mood Avhen conducting negotiations, and made it clear that any trading or other concessions required from the Dominion, would have to be paid for. If all the delegates adopted a'similar attitude, what prospect of solving intricate problems would Mr. Savage’s proposed economic conference have? •