CORONATION BALL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 458, 16 June 1937, Page 5

CORONATION BALL

Mr Savage Honoured In London London, June 15. The most outstanding gathering in the New Zealand Society’s career was the Coronation dinner and ball at the Savoy Hotel last night. Four hundred guests were present. The High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, Mr W. J. Jordan, proposing the health of the guest of honour, the Prime Minister, Mr M. J. Savage, said no worthier man had reached that goal. Mr Savage’s impelling desire was to be of service and assistance to his generation. No one was more fitted to lead a Government, because lie was animated by sympathy, sincerity and ability. He had given weighty assistance to the Imperial Conference and had fruitfully served not only the Dominion but also the Empire. Mr Savage, responding, said that Mr Jordan and he doubtless were once regarded as lunatics, but people were beginning to realise that there was something in what they advocated. ' ' - ' New Zealand owed a lot to Britain, Mr Savage declared. Some newspapers said his Government was not good enough to live up to its responjSibility. “I challeiige such people, in years to come, to say we let them down. We will honour every obligation. We only ask for a fair deal.” Theirs was a simple philosophy, Mr Savage proceeded. Every shilling Britain spent in New Zealand was a shilling to buy British manufactures. Nothing aroused greater enthusiasm than Mr Savage's reference to the presence of the New Zealand cricketers who, he said, had not disgraced New Zealand but had shown they knew how to play a great game!