Editing Michael Joseph Savage (section)

==Arrival in New Zealand==
After a farewell function in [[Rutherglen, Victoria|Rutherglen]], Savage [[Emigration|emigrated]] to New Zealand in 1907.<ref name="Rutherglen farewell">{{cite news |title=Rutherglen |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155333454 |access-date=26 June 2015 |work=Benalla Standard |date=13 September 1907 |page=3}}</ref> He arrived in [[Wellington]] on 9 October, which happened to be Labour Day. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, [[Flax in New Zealand|flax]]-cutter and storeman, before becoming involved in the [[trade union|union]] movement. Despite initially intending to join Webb on the West Coast, he decided to move north, arriving in [[Auckland]] in 1908.

He soon found board there with Alf and Elizabeth French and their two children. Alf had come to New Zealand in 1894 on the ship ''[[SS Wairarapa|Wairarapa]]'', which was wrecked on [[Great Barrier Island]], and had helped in the rescue of a girl. Savage, who never married, lived with the French family until 1939, when he moved to the house ''Hill Haven'', 64–66 Harbour View Road, Northland, Wellington, subsequently used by his successor as Prime Minister, Peter Fraser, until 1949.<ref>''Dominion Post'' (Wellington), 2012: 1 December pE1 & 26 December pA14</ref> After arriving in Auckland he found employment at Hancock and Co., a brewery. The brewery was owned by a Jewish family who hired irrespective of workers faith helping Savage overcome the anti-Irish Catholic sentiments that were prevalent in much of Auckland at the time.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=73}} Soon after beginning work he joined the Auckland Brewers', Wine and Spirit Merchants' and Aerated Water Employees' Union and quickly became president of the 154 member union. He was the delegate of the union to the Auckland Trades Council and in 1910 he was elected president of the trades council.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=74}}