MR. SAVAGE’S FRIENDS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 299, 4 December 1935, Page 7

MR. SAVAGE’S FRIENDS

Will Live With Him Still MR. AND MRS. FRENCH (By Telegraph—Preu AMociation.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 4Through nearly 30 years of ceaseless work, with a common purpose, the cause of Labour, New Zealand’s future Prime Minister and friends of a genera, tion, Mr and Mrs A. J. French, hava lived under the same roof. No wonder then that Mr Savage should insist that his frienda live with him in the Molesworth street house, Wellington, which has been the home of Sir Forbes. Over 29 years ago, Mr Savage went to live with the Frenches in Ponsonby. The three have lived as one household for the past eight years at their home at Herne Bay. Through years of closest association Mr French has formed ths deepest admiration for Mr Savage, for his ability and never-ending humanitarian acts.

“You could not Eave a better comrade,” said Hr French, interviewed this morning. “1 have never met a finer man. There has never been one moment of friction between us all those years. Kir Savage loves his home, also pottering about his little study, with a telephone on hfs desk and portable typewriter. He is thoroughly domesticated, taking his turn at anything about the house. At one time he bought a set of bowls, but has not found time to play. He has kept hintself poor by generosity. He is always prepared to help. Never in the years I have known him has ho once deviated from the course ho is following to-day. His interest in people who need help most has always been and still is paramount in his eyes. “Mt. Savage is not a churchgoing man. If you ask him his religion ho will say, ‘My religon is my duty to my neighbour.’ He keeps himself fit with a little gardening and running the lawnmower over several lawns at his home. Occasionally he uses dumbolls. He can dance a hornpipe or jig. He is fond of good mnsio and often listens to the radio in the evening, but he turns off jazz. He is a great reader.” Kir. and Mrs. French do not know definitely when they will be leaving for Wellington. “Wo would not like to he away from Mr. Savage,” Mr. French concluded.