MR SAVAGE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 446, 31 May 1937, Page 6

MR SAVAGE

HIS PERSONALITY English Impression r ~ (By Air Mail.) London, May 5. There arrived in London yesterday one of the most interesting of all the Coronation visitors —Mr M. J. Savage, Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand; (writes Erjiest Jay in the “Daily Herald"). He has come to the Coronation and the Empire Conference with, a tie v ’J?al of the meaning of Empire. Since he became Prime Minister in November, 1935, he has shown that he is not only an idealist, but a great practical statesman. His life story is one of hard experience. Born on a farm in Australia, he graduated in a hard school—shop worker, miner, nawy—then in New Zealand for 30 years he agitated, became secretary, then leader of the New Zealand Labour party.

“I have known hardship and stfirvaion,” he told me, “and' I intend to use every means I can to see that those who have trusted me Shall not suffer the same experience.” He beHves: that the question of production has been solved “Our

job is to increase the buying power of the people, and that is what we are doing in New Zealand. Our view 'is that wages, representing the buyj ing power of the people, must be the first charge on industry. The Govsrnment is making the necessary adjustments to ensure that they are reasonably high. Britain is our bej: customer. We want closer ties of mutual trade. That is a matter of common-sense.” Dealing with an organised caniaign in London to depreciate New Zealand credits, he declared his Government has monetary reserves overseas in excess of its requirements. And,” he added, “it has kept, and will, always keep, every monetary commitment made by the present or my past Government.” Carries No Dynamite. “I am quite a mild sort of individual; I do not go round carrying dynamite with me,” aaid Mr. Savage when asked whether New Zealand! “etill proposed” to lower rates of interest on London loans. “For one thing," he said, “we could not do than if we wished.” *1 was asked in one of the corri-tloi-s of Government House what plans the Government had in mind on this subject,” Mr. Savage added, “and I replied:, using an Australian football term, that Mr. Nash would ’bounce the ball’ when he got to England I was surprised to know of the publicity which that remark received in the British newspapers. In Australia they always bounce the , ball to start the game, and I was using the term in the sense that Mr. Nash would begin the negotiations on arrival in London. New Zealand will pay her debts, and meet her obligations. We will meet our responsibilities whatever they