STAFFS’ CHEERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19894, 23 March 1939, Page 5

STAFFS’ CHEERS

ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES MR. SAVAGE’S INSPECTION AUCKLAND FACTORIES MR. SULLIVAN SINGS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Scenes of the utmost enthusiasm, cheering and singing greeted the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, when he visited die clothing factory of Robert Greer and Son, Limited, Ponsonby, yesterday morning. Mr. Savage was accompanied by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G, Sullivan, the Hon. F. Lark, M.L.C., Mr. W. T. Anderton, M.P., Mr. A. S. Richards, M.P., Mr. L. J. Schmitt, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, members of his staff and representatives of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association Mr. Savage was cheered by girls who leaned from windows on various floors of the building. The party was conducted through the building by senior members of the firm. At ihe conclusion of the tour.the staff assembled in the luncheon room and was briefly addressed by Mr. Savage and Mr. Sullivan. Repeated cheers were given for Mr. Savage and the staff joined in singing “For \He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” A light touch was given lo the proceedings by Mr, Sullivan who. in response to repeated demands, led the staff in the singing of “The Isle of Capri.” Calls for Song When Mr. Sullivan, who had been introduced by Mr. Savage as a singer of some repute, went to speak he was greeted by calls of “sing it to us,” and eventually he did after some of the girl employees had begun the song. Further cheers were given as Mr. Savage and his party left the building, which was decorated with a large number of placards bidding the visitors welcome. The Prime Minister’s car was surrounded by a number of employees with whom he shook hands. Two other factories were visited by Mr. Savage, accompanied by the same official party. In the afternoon he went first to the factory of J. Edwards and Sons, Limited, manufacturers of wooden heels, clothes pegs and other wooden articles. Mr. Savage was received by senior members of the firm and, after being shown over the factory and having seen various different types of goods in all stages of manufacture, he addressed the staff. Mr. Sullivan also spoke and the Prime Minister was cheered. Autograph Sought As he left to continue his tour of inspection, a crowd assembled in Union street outside the factory and it was some minutes before Mr. Savage could leave. He shook hands with many people, signed autograph books and acknowledged repeated cheers. Further scenes of enthusiasm occurred on the arrival of the party at the factory of Bridgens and Company Limited, footwear manufacturers. Local residents and passers-by had assembled in force to greet Mr. Savage and the party had some small difficulty in entering the premises, so densely packed were the watching people. The directors of the company welcomed Mr. Savage and other guests and entertained them to afternoon tea. Cheering and singing, repeated hand shakes .and cries of “Good old Mickey” marked the close of the visit. Mr. Savage was surrounded by girl employees, some Of whom linked arms about him while others sang and further enthusiasm was displayed by the growing crowd that had assembled on the street. The Prime Minister and his party are visiting other factories to-day. LIBERTY MUST BE SAVED CHECK TO AGGRESSION SIR H. BATTERBEE’S VIEWS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “Liberty is the very basis of the British commonwealth and cannot be allowed to-perish from the earth,” said the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand, Sir Harry Batterbee, speaking to members of the Royal Empire Society and Victoria League in Wellington yesterday. “Now, as never before,” he added, “the principles in Which we believe—principles of liberty and democracy, of fair play and l justice, of settling all questions not by force and violence but by reason and negotiation—are being tested. The present international situation is, I know, in all our hearts to-day. The cablegrams which have appeared in the press have shown the anxiety which Ls being felt by those in the Mother Country. “I trust with all my heart that peaceful means may be found to check the spirit of aggression and of challenge to liberty which has manifested itself during the past few days. “The best service we can render is to pray that the efforts of all those who are trying to preserve the principles of liberty and democracy in the world may succeed.”