AUCKLAND GREETS MR SAVAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20671, 9 March 1937, Page 6

AUCKLAND GREETS MR SAVAGE

MOTOR ESCORT TO CITY TUMULTUOUS WELCOME By Telegraph —Press Association AUCKLAND, March 8. A pathway of triumph was opened for the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, when he returned to Auckland province for the first time in more than a year. At Princess Te Puea’s Pa at Ngaruawahia, at the citizens’ welcome at Huntly, at the Labour Party's rally at Otahuhu, and again at the Station Hotel he received tumultuous welcomes. A traditional native welcome was given to the Prime Minister at Ngaruawahia, where he was accompanied by the Minister of Health (Hon. P. Fraser), the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple), the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb), and the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Lee Martin). The Ministerial party left Ngaruawahia shortly after 2 o'clock and stopped at Huntly for a civic welcome in the Town Hall. Huntly observed the occasion almost as a close holiday, and the mines in the district ceased work for the day. Before attending the civic reception, Mr Lavage, from the balcony of the Town Hall, addressed the local school children, who were drawn up in the street, together with those of their elders who could not gain admission to the 1 ail. The party left Huntly shortly before 4 o’clock and about an hour later halted at the outskirts of Otahuhu, where an open-air rally had been arranged by the Labour Party. Mr Savage had to alight from his car and address the large gathering before its members entered their own motor-cars, freely bedecked with red streamers, to form a procession, about a mile long, and escort the Prime Minister into the city. All along the route little knots of people were gathered to wave and shout greetings, and at various junctions along the route traffic policemen had an unenviable task in controlling the traffic.

The climax of the city’s welcome was reached when Mr Savage reached the Station Hotel. Here a flag-covered dais had been erected on the steps leading from Anzac Avenue to Beach Road, and a crowd of about 2000 had gathered to take up the strains of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” On the dais the Mayor (Mr Ernest Davis) formally welcomed Mr Savage to the city. The Prime Minister replied briefly but cheerfully. Some people, he said, had stated that he was failing in health. He was ready for an eight rounds’ “scrap” with anyone right away, and the welcome which he had received was evidence that the Government was moving forward with the goodwill of the people. The crowd called for a speech from Mr Semple. This was given, and, finally to the accompaniment of band music, cheers and innumerable handclasps, Mr Savage was permitted to enter his hotel. “A Long Way to Go” No more enthusiastic reception by an Auckland audience than that given t the Prime Minister at the Town Hall to-night has been seen in the city for very many years. The occasion served a twofold purpose, as it represented a welcome to Mr Savage on his return to the city after his many months of arduous labours at Wellington and farewell almost on the eve of his departure for Wellington to be present at the Coronation and to attend the Imperial Conference. The Town Hall was crowded with a cheering throng, while an overflow audience listened to the speeches through loud speakers. The principal speeches of welcome were made by the Mayor Mr Ernest Davis), the deputy Mayor (the Hon. Bernard Martin), the president of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee (Mr J. T. Jennings), and the Mayor of One Tree Hill (Mr J. J. Goldstone) representing suburban local bodies.

“We have not gone anything like the distance we Intend to go,” said Mr Savage, in reply. “We will go on with your support. We are not going to take out the foundations of existing institutions and have them tumbling about our ears. Our job is to “ring order out of chaos. This cannot be done in a week-end. We still have a long way to go.”