MR SAVAGE’S CAREER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1940, Page 5

MR SAVAGE’S CAREER

LONG SERVICE TO LABOUR PARTY PEACE AND WAR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP. WHOLEHEARTED SUPPORT OF BRITAIN. Born at Benalla. Victoria, on March 7. 1872, Mr Savage took an active part in the Australian Labour movement before coming to New Zealand in 1907. He was long associated with the Labour movement in this country and before he succeeded the late Mr H. E. Holland, in 1933, as Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, had occupied many important positions, including those of national secretary, Deputy-Loader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and membership of the national executive. Mr Savage served for four years on the Auckland City Council and for a much longer period on the Auckland Hospital Board.

First elected to Parliament as member for Auckland West in 1919, Mr Savage was re-elected at every succeeding contest up to 1938. In 1926, Mr Savage visited Australia as one of the four New Zealand delegates to the conference of the British Empire Parliamentary Association. After many years in Parliamentary Opposition, Mr Savage led the Labour Party to victory in the general election of 1935, assisted in some measure by a serious division of the political forces opposed to Labour. At the succeeding general election in 1938, however, the Labour Party was again returned to power with a substantial majority of the total votes cast.

Outstanding features of the policy and legislation of the Government headed by Mr Savage have been the establishment of the Social Security scheme, the institution of dairy guaranteed prices and other important extensions of State control over export and internal marketing, an unprecedented expansion of public works, an enterprising extension of State housing, and the conversion of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand into a purely State institution. A very considerable increase in expenditure on education has been another important feature of the Labour administration.

BREAKDOWN OF HEALTH INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAINTAINED. SUNDAY EVENING BROADCASTS. Early in August last Mr Savage underwent an operation. His recovery appeared to be exceptionally rapid, but before long it became evident that his health was not fully re-estab-lished. The Prime Minister's keen and active interest in public affairs was, however, maintained virtually to the, end. During the period of his indisposition he kept, touch with the people chiefly by means of a series of Sunday evening broadcasts, of which the last was delivered on March 3. In the course of that address, the subject of which was: “Public Friend No. I—the Fighting Man,” Mr Savage said:— "Our soldiers will be engaged in no far-off foray that has little or no relation, except of sentiment, to our own lives and fate. In whatever distant place they take up their position they will be covering Auckland as immediately as if they were strung out along the North Shore, or entrenched on Rngitoto or Mototapu. Wherever they attack or defend they will be guarding Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin as instantly as if they were in action at Lyall Bay, Sumner or St Hilda,

"We have not sent—we shall not be sending—our boys overseas by way of a gesture, however splendid. We are not engaged in theatricals that happen to be dangerous. Nothing less than tlie stark necessity would induce us to send the flower of our manhood to the battlefield. Our men go to take their place in the armies of freedom because, without them, these armies would be incomplete.” • In the concluding passages of the same address, Mr Savage suggested tht even now. though winning the war is ol course our first and most urgent consideration, we can be giving at least a little thought to ways and means of bringing the returned

back into civil life. Some will not need any help. They will go back to their old tasks and callings whatever they were. But for others it will not be so easy. We must charge our .consciences with the duty of ensuring that no returned soldier who is willing to work has to come back to battle for a job. After the war I would like to see our men by the thousand settled on the land in conditions that will give them a sure prospect of success. Having given some of the best years of their lives to fight the tyranny of Nazism, returned soldiers must not be let in for a lifelong war against the tyranny of debt. "1 want to see New Zealand filled with new settlers and new workers. New blood must come into this country. for if we don’t fill it we shall not hold it. The best immigrants we can get are those that get a fair start in New Zealand cradles. There will be no better way of attracting them to the country than providing facilities for home-making for all our returned soldiers. Let ail of us who do not go to the war be thinking even now how best we can make it up to the fighting man for what he will have given and done for us.”

DAV OF VICTORY MR SAVAGE’S PROUD MOMENT. “This is one of the proudest moments of my lifetime." Mr Savage declared on the night in October, 1935. when it became apparent that his party had triumphed at the polls. "I wish to reciprocate very heartily the kindly thoughts that have been expressed about me by the Prime Minister,” he added on that occasion. “As Mr Forbes stated, we have been close friends since I entered the House in 1919. and I trust that although we have changed places in the House our friendship will go on." Mr Savage went on to say that the trouble with New Zealand today, as with the rest of the world, arose solely’ out of the problem of the distribution o£ production. This was the main problem that now faced the new Government. He had gone up and down the country stating that if Labour secured a majority the programme ho had been speaking about would be implemented. But this could only be done with the co-operation of all the people and he had no doubt of the answer to that.

■“I can. assure the people of New Zealand that they have nothing to fear from a Labour Government.” continued Mr Savage. "Our object is to co-operate with the people in the work of building in New Zealand." Manufacturing industries had to be extended further, and the primary industries would need assistance, he continued. It was only a question of co-operation. It seemed to him that the new Government would be a Labour Government, and it would have difficult problems to face, but these would be faced with no fear whatever. Labour would be content to rely on the verdict of history. There was a time when New Zealand led the world in its social legislation,” ho said. “We intend to begin where the late Richard John Seddon and his colleagues left off.'.’

POLICY FORECASTS. Interviewed, on the morrow of the 1935 election. Mr Savage said all the unemployed could be assured of a happy Christmas. Labour would see to it that the necessary payments were made to enable those who were deprived of the decencies of life to enjoy Christmas like anyone else. "Parliament will be broadcast..” said Mr Savage, "five-year-olds will be admitted to the State schools after I the summer vacation, and civil servants willing to co-operate with the i Government need have no fear of their position." Mr Savage said he saw no reason why the fullest co-operation should not be expected. It was not. Labour’s intention to increase the cost of Government, but alterations to the existing state of national affairs were so vitally necessary that the length of I the session would not be a considera-I tion. "We have a job—indeed a duty —to do. and we mean to do it,” he I said. 'Our job is to serve.” 1 Mr Savage said that the least > the Government would do would bo to restore the powers of the Arbitration Court, but he hoped very soon to make it an improved tribunal. He promised also the restoration of three-year parliaments. While there was work to do Labour members would be prepared to do it. They would not be found enjoying social occasions while unprivileged people were in distress. Labour would take an early opportunity to restore rates of pay and conditions to workers.