LATE MR SAVAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 March 1943, Page 3

LATE MR SAVAGE

ONE WHO LOVED HIS FELLOW MEN BASTION POINT MEMORIAL. UNVEILED. PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS. • (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. March 28. The ceremony of unveiling the memorial to the late Prime Minister, Mr Savage, and of officially opening the Garden of Remembrance was carried out at Bastin Point this afternoon in perfect weather. A large crowd assembled, including representatives of every Maori tribe in the Dominion. The emotions of the funeral rite had passed. It was in a spirit of calmly commemorative appreciation of the man who led the first Labour Government that people assembled. The dignified beauty of the monumental column above the mausoleum and its Classic garden setting gave to the gathering its tone. Every word that was spoken was in key. The ceremony itself was short. It lasted only threequarters of an hour. More than 200 Maoris were present. Above the entrance a large welcoming party formed up in ranks and under the leadership of two or three men dressed as warriors and with green foliage in their hands gave the traditional welcome to the more important visitors and then to the official party headed by the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser. The official party was preceded by a body of members of the Auckland branch of the Labour Party and the Auckland Trades Council, who were led by a band., Other bands played during the preceding two hours. After the official party was seated, the choral society and associated choirs accommodated at the south end of the garden pool sang “The Heavens are Telling” and the “Hallelujah” chorus. Then to the accompaniment of the bands, the hymn "Abide With Me” was sung. Following the unveiling of a bronze memorial plaque on the seaward side of the base of the monument and cast figures representing justice and humanity on the south side a burgle band played the "Reveille.” The Prime Minister’s next duty was to declare open the garden of remenbrance and memorial park and to commit them to the care of the city of Auckland. Wreaths were then laid within the tomb. Among those present were the Cabinet Ministers, Messrs. Sullivan, Semple, Mason, Webb, Nordmeyer, O’Brien, Wilson, Barclay and Parry, and also leaders of the Labour movement. AN UNSELFISH LEADER. In his address the Prime Minister paid a warm tribute to Mr Savage, describing him as a great leader of men, a great reformer and a great statesman. He was also a great humanitarian and great Christian, he said. He was great in character, honesty, sincerity, modesty, humanity, loyalty, outlook, ideals, vision, ability and achievement, great in defeat, great in victory and, above all, great in selflessness. The memorial and garden of remembrance, simple, dignified and beautiful, fitly portrayed and symbolised the simplicity, dignity, beauty and beneficence of his life and life’i work. No man ever loved the people more than Mr Savage, and no public man in the history of the Dominion was ever more widely and more sincerely •loved by the mass of the people. His finest statue would always be in those statutes of the country which he inspired and which under his wise guidance and convinced and compelling leadership were passed into law and into the life of New Zealand. The social security legislation which was nearest and dearest to his heart was leading the world. The Garden of Remembrance and Memorial Park formed a noble, dignified, beautiful, inspiring, poetical and thoroughly appropriate memorial of one life- was a living poem of love for humanity and service to his country. The inscription “He loved his fellow men.” was no idle phrase. It summed up his mental outlook and his philosophy of life. To him the world “pepple” meant all people. He was a friend of them all. Mr Savage felt the weight and burden of distress, poverty and suffering, and he dedicated his life to the amelioration of the lot and the lives of people of both races, and he succeeded better even than he had anticipated. He built better than ever he knew. In war Mr Savage’s vision was as clear as in peace. To him as to all lovers of peace the war was a terrible catastrophe, but he nevei - flinched or failed. The situation had to be faced. New Zealand had to organise for war to the full limit of its struggle for freedom and democracy. He expressed his view of the conflict, the issues at stake and the part New Zealand had to take in it when he said, “Unless Britain and her Allies win all is lost.” “Mr ■ Savage gave the soldiers a solemn pledge that when they returned they would be adequately cared and provided for.” Mr Fraser added. “I renew that solemn pledge here today.” MR CURTIN’S MESSAGE. Mr Curtin, the Prime Minister of Australia, in a message, said: “Australians have warm memories of the late Mr Savage. He was a man beloved and it is appropriate that the monument to him bears the simple inscription ‘He loved his fellow men.’ The manner in which his work for humanity is being commemorated would meet with Mr Savage’s approval were he alive today, for he worked with wholesouled devotion for the people and a better way of life for them. Australians will pause amid the turmoil of war to recall a great humanitarian who did so much to bring honour to Australia and New Zealand.” Messages were also ■received from Mr Nash and the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones.