ONLY FOOLS RUSH IN-

Northern Advocate, 5 December 1935, Page 8

ONLY FOOLS RUSH IN-

Mr. Savage Will Go Warily NOT OPPOSED TO TITLES “IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO” ■ \ [Special to “Northern Advocate ” 3 .WELLINGTON, This Day. rpHE Prime Minister-elect, the- Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, spared a few moments before his departure for ‘ Government House to have a personal chat with the Parliamentary representative of the “Northern Advocate” and to discuss some of the things the Labour Government will tackle. Mr Savage made it clear that the Government is going to be right on the job immediately it takes over, and, while he is anxious to meet th& people of New Zealand as early as possible, he will hot be able to make a tour until next year, when he hopes to visit Christchurch and other centres. He will, however, spend Christmas in Auckland.

Until the first meeting of Cabinet on Saturday, Mr Savage is not disposed to reveal the lines of the Government policy in definite terms, and he reiterated today that while the Government is going to “do things” it is not going

to rush its fences, but proceed along lines of co-operation with all

who are willing to co-operate.

An indication that Mr Savage is not desirous of interfering with tradition was given in his reply to a question regarding the attitude of the Government to titles. He said he did not see anything wrong with them, although hje personally was not enthusiastic about that sort of thing and nobody need think that he had hopes of becoming “Earl of Takapuna.” Samoan Administrator.

“We are not going to waste time breaking down old usage,” said the Prime Minister. “There are too many more important things to do.” Questioned regarding Samoa, Mr Savage said that the question of the appointment of a new Administrator had not been considered. A man would be appointed who had sympathy with and appreciation of native usages and customs. “The Samoans have been handled wrongly from the beginning,” he said.

“Military dictatorship must be avoided, and a man with sympathy and understanding must be appointed. His job will be to make friends with thh Samoans. Everyone admits that they are a very fine race.” Mr Savage was also questioned regarding the Public Service Commissionership, which is now vacant. He said the person had not been considered, but he was opposed to oneman control, and, at the same itme, did not think it wise that the responsibility of making appointments to

His idea was that it was in the best interests to have three men in charge of this work. High Commissioner. The omission of Mr W. J. Jordan, one of the senior members of the party, from the Ministry has given rise to much speculation that he was going to '.be the next High Commissioner in London. The Prime Minister, when questioned on this point, said it was true Mr Jordan was going to be given an important position later on, but, as Sir James Parr was the High Commissioner until near the end of next year, the question of a successor to

him did not arise immediately. The whole of the Ministerial secretarial corps will be taken oyer by new members, and it may possibly be necessary to make one or two new appointments. '

Mr Savage said today that the Ministerial private secretaries were excellent men, had always treated him with courtesy, and there was no reason why they should be displaced. The Prime Minister intends to have an early interview with Mr J. Christie, law draftsman in order to be assured that the Law Drafting Department is able to, prepare legislation without delay.

“It is not economy,” he said, “to have the House sitting for weeks and weeks waiting for bills to come from the law draughtsman. SIR J. PARR’S COMMENT (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, December 4. The High Commissioner, Sir James Parr, commenting on the report that Mr W. J. Jordan was succeeding him, said: “I know nothing about it. At the request of Mr Forbes and the late Government in August I consented to an extension of my term until January 1, 1937. It has been so extended.”