PRIME MINISTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23615, 27 March 1940, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER

' STILL' WEAKER FRIENDS AT BEDSIDE DOCTORS' LONG VIGIL [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] "WELLINGTON, Wednesday morning The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, was slowly sinking at one o'clock this morning, a condition first reported at 9.45 a.m. yesterday. For the third successive occasion the Hon. P. C. Webb spent the night at j the Prime Minister's residence atj Northland. He is Mr. Savage's closest j friend both politically and personally, i Soon after the bulletin was issued J yesterday morning the condition of Mr. Savage took another turn for the worse. The Prime Minister's private secretary, Mr. C. A. Jeffrey, went to Northland early io the evening and remained there during the night. The Hon. P. Eraser, deputy-Prime Minister, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong and the Hon. M. Fagan were among those who visited Mr. Savage during the day. Medical advisers were in constant attendance from the time the last bulletin was issued yesterday morning. MOVING TRIBUTE ARCHBISHOP'S REFERENCE RESPECT FOR MR. SAVAGE INSPIRED BY HIGH IDEAL J A moving tribute to the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, was paid by Archbishop Averill Inst night during a farewell gathering arranged in his and Mrs. Averill's honour by the parishioners of St. Mary's Cathedral. "We h ave all been deeply sorry to hear of the Prime Minister's illness," said the Archbishop. "I have always regarded Mr. Savage as a very honest man, an honourable man for whom I have the highest respect. "He has always been inspired by an ideal to which he has consistently tried to live up, a high ideal of service which he has always tried to realise. He has given himself to the. people he wanted to serve. He has never stooped to anything mean but has always tried to live up to his own high ideal." BISHOP BRODIE'S REGRET "REALLY GREAT BENEFACTOR" [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GREYMOUTIT, Tuesday Speaking at the annual banquet of the Catholic clubs and societies, Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch. expressed deep regret at the serious turn of Mr. Savage's illness. "Our Prime Minister's life is in the balance to-night," said Bishop Brodie, "and if he goes I feel sure there are very many people in New Zealand who will regret the .loss of a really great benefactor. He has done a great deal for the people of this country at large and it is a pity that it does not appear that he is going to live to fulfil one of his greatest ambitions. "Mr. Savage told me a short time ago that it was one of his ambitions to provide a family bonus so that every family might have protection in time of great need, and that ho would not be satisfied until he had placed such legislation on the Statute Book. . "'We will all be extremely sorry if he is not spared to fully realise this ambition. He has endeared himself to everyone in this country and overseas and our pravers are with him. in his hour of trial." * CONCERN IN LONDON BULLETINS FROM DOMINION British Wireless LONDON, March 25 Bulletins regarding Mr. Savage's condition are being read with concern as they arrive in London.