FRIEND'S EULOGY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23616, 28 March 1940, Page 13

FRIEND'S EULOGY

STORY OF SACRIFICE

PEOPLE AND CAUSE

OPERATION DEFERRED

[BT TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION*] "WELLINGTON, "Wednesday

That Mr. Savage realised his end must come soon, but refused to give Tip his work because he felt he could help the people of New Zealand toward greater security by continuing in office,- was revealed by the Minister of Mines and Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, who was one of Mr. Savage's oldest and closest friends. Mr. Savage was told, said Mr. Webb, that an early operation was necessary if he were to have a chance of recovery, but, as an immediate operation -would have removed him from the political sphere when his party was fighting for continuance of office, ho elected to continue in the work.

-Mr. Webb stated that he had been associated with Mr. Savage since 1900, both in his public and private life. "And I can feelingly say that no greater man or truer friend ever lived," ho added. "I never knew him to say an -anjust or unkind word about anybody, and I never knew him turn aside from anyone in need. He had a will of steel and the heart of a child. His kindness and firmness gave him that •wonderful personality that captivated the hearts of all with whom he came in contact."

Testing Election

Several months before the last election, said Mr. Webb, Mr. Savage had a bad turn. His medical advisers said an operation was urgently needed and that delay might prove—as it did—fatal, but he found that if he complied with the medical advice he would be put aside during the election campaign, and he told Mr. Webb:

"This is going to be the testing election of the Labour Government. If after threo years' legislation we regain the Treasury Benches I am convinced that a continuance of the good work already done for auother three years will establish the Labour Party in office indefinitely. I feel that the" best service I can give "the cause and the people is to fight on and if wo are victorious at the poll that will be my compensation. I will die happy in the knowledge that the people of this country will be free from unemployment, poverty and distress."

Indomitable Spirit

"With indoinitable spirit,*' said Mr. Webb, "he pushed on with the work niul when he submitted to an operation it was too late. He knew the first advice of his medical attendants was right, but he felt the path he had chosen, although it probably meant earlier death, would be to the best advantage of (lie party and country.

"There were only two or three of us who knew his real condition and we could not betray his confidence, and the confidence of his medical advisers, even to our own colleagues in the Cabinet."

Proud of Colleagues

Mr. Webb said Mr. Savage had been very proud of the way in which the deputy-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, had conducted Parliament during the latter part of last session and of the way he represented New Zealand in Britain after the outbreak of war. He also commented that Mr. Nash had been faced with the "hardest task ever tackled by a Minister overseas when he went to London.

''Some time ago." Mr. Webb said, "he remarked that we would have to prepare for the future, because we could not expect to l>ave him with us much longer. He told me not to worry and said, 'Wo have a great party and whatever difficulties may.exist at the present time will disappear.' " Mr. Webb referred to Mr. Savage's great love for the Maori race, and concluded: "While I feel that I have lost my best mate. I am consoled in the thought that he will, because" of his work, live for 10,000 years and not just 69."