GIFT OF PORTRAIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22893, 23 November 1937, Page 13

GIFT OF PORTRAIT

THE PRIME MINISTER PRESENTATION BY MAYOR LABOUR CLUB'S GATHERING A life-size portrait of the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, for tho painting of which the English artist J. A. A. Bcrrie was commissioned during Mr. Savage's recent visit to Great Britain, was presented to the Auckland Labour Club hist night by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis. Sir Ernest also welcomed to the city delegates attending a conference of the Amalgamated Engineering and Allied Trades' Association of Workers. The president of the club, Mr. J. T. Jennings, welcomed Sir Ernest and also the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, who thanked the Mayor for his gift.

The portrait was unveiled by Sir Ernest in the social hall of the club. Later it will be transferred to the lounge, but it is proposed by the executive to present it after 12 months to the National Art Gallery, a course approved last night by Sir Ernest. After the ceremony the vice-president of tho club, Mr. J. Purtell, moved that members' appreciation of the gift should be placed 011 record, and this was seconded by Mr. Jennings, and carried with acclamation.

Before unveiling his gift. Sir Ernest paid tribute to the qualities of Mr. Savage, whom lie described as a man without any enemies. All his political opponents admitted his good qualities and his generous thoughts. He had reached his present position by his own labours, by strict integrity and hard work, and was now placed among tho statesmen of the Empire. It gave him great pleasure, said Sir Ernest, to be able to show his admiration for Mr. Savage in this manner. Mr. Armstrong thanked Sir Ernest for the gift oi\ behalf of the Prime Minister and said Mr. Savage had undoubtedly won a placo as one of the greatest leaders .New Zealand had known. In the short space of time that it had been in oftice the Government had at least accomplished something in the interests of the people. It had also set the world talking about New Zealand, as Mr. Armstrong had learned when he was in Europe recently. He thought the Government had done as much for the people as any otjier section of the working class movement in the world, and it would achieve even greater things if given the opportunity. After the presentation those attending continued with a social "evening that was given in honour of the delegates to the conference.