MEMORIAL TO MR SAVAGE

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 4

MEMORIAL TO MR SAVAGE

Erection At Tomb At Auckland

TRUSTEES INVITE CONTRIBUTIONS

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 19.

The question of erecting a national memorial to the memory of the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage has been considered by the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party which is issuing an appeal to the people- of the Dominion for contributions for this purpose. It is intended to erect a memorial at Mr Savage’s tomb on Bastion Point, Auckland. The following statement was issued today by Mr M. Moohan on behalf of the memorial trustees: “The nation mourns a great leader and a statesman. The people of today need no memorial of marble to his memory; he is enshrined in their hearts for ever. But it is fitting that generations yet unborn should see some tangible evidence of the high regard and esteem in which he was held by the people of this country. It has therefore been decided to erect a memorial on Bastion Point to symbolize the wonderful lifework of Michael Joseph Savage in uplifting humanity and bringing contentment, happiness and prosperity to the people of this Dominion. “Although the New Zealand Labour Party with which Mr Savage was so closely associated during his lifetime isissuing this appeal it is realized that nearly everyone in New Zealand, irrespective of political opinions, will be anxious to contribute to the memorial, which will in some degree express the affectionate admiration in which Mr Savage was held by this generation and the eminence he attained as a statesman during his four and a-half years’ tenure of the Prime Ministership. Everyone who would like to be associated with this memorial is invited to send a contribution, no matter how small it may be. Large sums of money are not asked for. This should be a real people’s tribute to one who spent his life in the service to the people. Donations should be forwarded to the M. J. Savage Memorial Trustees, P.O. Box 1416, Wellington, Cl.” The Trustees are the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser), the Leader of the Legislative Council (the Hon. D. Wilson), Messrs J. Roberts, A. McLagan, R. Eddy, F. D. Cornwell and M. Moohan.