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Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20258, 29 July 1937, Page 9

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SCENES ON ARRIVAL ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. OVATION AT TOWN HALL. , THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. (By Teleyrap'u.—Prays Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, returned to Wellington this afternoon by the Rangitala from his visit to England, where, with the Minister of Finance, the lion. W. Nash, and the High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, he represented New Zealand at the Coronation celebrations and the Imperial Conference. Enthusiastic receptions were accorded Mr Savage on his arrival, and on going ashore he found awaiting him a large number of messages of goodwill from all parts of the Dominion. When the Rangitata drew alongside the wharf shortly after 5 o’clock there was a crowd of well over 1000 people waiting, and Mr Savage, who was standing on the boat deck, smilingly waved in response to ringing cheers and the singing of “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Looking the picture of health, the Prime Minister, with hand upraised, walked slowly down the gangway, preceding his Cabinet 'colleagues who bad boarded the vessel in the stream. As he stepped on to the wharf, Mr Savage was almost mobbed by a group 4 of well-wishers, and one woman embraced him and kissed him heartily, while the crowd roared approval. Mr Savage was welcomed by the Wellington Harbour Board at the wharf, and to-night a civic reception at the Town Hall was given In his honour.

empire problems. ' MR SAVAGE IN LONDON. ECONOMIC FOUNDATION STRESSED. {By Telegrapn.—press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. " I have Just come from the Old Land and have had the privilege of speaking to representatives of Chambers of Commerce and other commercial organisations, and I was assured that In the case of the dairy Industry New Zealand butter had no superior In the British market,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon, M. J. Savage In his reply to speeches of welcome at the oivic reception to-night. Mr Savage said that If there was one man representing New Zealand who put the Dominion on the map In the Old Country If, was Mr Nash. It was a question of business with Mr Nash, and he had made good. Objeotlve the Same. “ We did not agree in everything at the Imperial Conference,” continued Mr Savage, ‘‘but the objective was about the same right along the line, and if Briiain wfere in difficulties tomorrow I do not think there would be much division. I think about the same thing would happen as happened last time. That does not relieve Hie people In high positions from the responsibility they have.

“ I went to the Imperial Conference with the idea in my mind that we had to put the economic foundation right

before we could build a superstructure of peace. I found great difficulty in getting people to see that, although it looked simple enough to me. “ I came from that conference convinced in my own mind that New Zealand is not running second to any nation on earth in putting the ecoomio foundation right. We who represented New Zealand at the conference thought that if we lifted the standard of life of the people of the world we would largely remove the cause of war, because we would tie using the surplus that we were Irving to thrust upon others. When 'the nations begin to realise that, we will be closer to peace than we are today. The Imperial Conference ultimately did agree that it was a good thing to lift the standard of life, but they did not seem Inclined to agree that It was a low standard of life that was largely the cause of war.” World Conference Urged. Mr Savage said an idea put forward by himself and his colleagues at 'lie Imperial Conference w;i* lhat a world conference on foreign policy would be worth while if only to get an understanding of the economic riilllcultics Some of the delegates were rather dubious and feared failure. ••If we could only get those people to realise that it was not onlv , t question of expansion of territory, something would he achieved." said \li Savage. If the expansion of territory was the onlj thing to be considered Britain would have no problems at all. Empty territories wore a danger to '.hr peace of the world. These were onh simple things th »t one woul l export people in high places to face tip to *‘ I am bound to say that we did not r cet as far as one would like.” said Mr Savage, “and although I am a little Lit downhearted. I have no doubt what would happen if we got into a tight corner. What we saw at Spit head and other places was nu eveopener ”