Mr Savages Speech

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1939, Page 6

Mr Savages Speech

THE voice of the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, had not, until last night, been heard on the air since his Budget address off August 1. His speech on that occasion was an example of the Prime Minister’s courage and devotion to duty, for he had to leave the House immediately after delivering it, and within a day or two he entered hospital to undergo a serious operation. The public was aware that he had made a good recovery from this ordeal, but his brief radio talk last evening must have been welcomed as corroborative evidence. Mr. Savage spoke as well as ever, and his firm and clear tones suggested that his convalesence must be proceeding satisfactorily. But, apart from this welcome evidence of an improved state of health, his speech was appreciated because it set out with great clarity the issues for which the British Empire is now fighting. Mr. Savage did not pretend to do any more than express his personal viewpoint. Nevertheless, his lucid examination of the manner in which a ruthless system of autocratic and selfelected Government has imposed itself on the German people, with dire results for their art and culture, and with consequences of the utmost gravity to the peace of the whole world, must have echoed the precise feeling of thousands of New Zealanders in the past few days.

The quarrel is not, as Mr. Savage pointed out, with the German people, whose art, literature and culture are so much admired, but with the ruthless Nazi regime which has made the name of Germany detested in freedom-loving communities throughout the world. It is this menace of Hitlerism which Britain and France are fighting. New Zealand is ranged alongside them> a united country, with political differences put aside, and only anxious to play its part worthily in the struggle.