1936: Savage’s Unconventional Family

January 1, 2020

By AHNZ

New Years Day, Ellerslie Races, 1936: I stumbled upon this rare photo (left) of Mrs Elizabeth French standing beside newly elected Prime Minister Savage. I have wondered about Savage’s unconventional home life with his adopted family, the Frenchs.

Alfred French crash-landed in 1894 when the SS. Wairarapa disastrously sank on the way to Auckland¹. His 14 years in the British Navy may have helped Alf survive where very many others did not. Marrying New Zealander Elizabeth (21) in 1898, Alf (32) have their first child the following year and another in 1906. It’s around about now, 1907 in fact, that an Australian (with the stereotypical Irish interest in acquiring state power) joins the family: Michael Joseph Savage.

In a manner more typical and perhaps appropriate to a much younger man, MJS (35) becomes lodger under Alf and Elizabeth’s roof alongside their son (9) and baby girl. Part of the family for many years was also a bull terrier but after attacking Savage and then Alf it had to be put down just prior to being elected the Prime-ministerial Dog.

At this point, 1936, the kids (38 & 30) have moved out if not both married themselves. PM Savage, now 64, has now been lodging with Alf (70) and Elizabeth (59) for 30 years! Moving into the Prime Minister’s residence in Wellington, Savage takes the retirees along to lodge with him.

“I am glad we are going to be near him in Wellington. You could not have a better comrade.”- Alf

“I should feel lost without the companionship of those friends.”- MJS

Ref. MR. SAVAGE’S PLANS. A HOME IN WELLINGTON; Auckland Star, 1935; Papers Past

The unconventional little family only broke up when Savage the old bachelor PM died (1940.) His life savings he bequeathed to Alf and his daughter², nothing for the son oddly. Elizabeth died soon after (1943) with old Comrade Alfred French the last to go in 1946.

 

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1 Wrecked, 29 October 1894

2 “Savage was a bachelor, and left his £3000 life savings, $275,000 in today’s money, to his closest friends Alf and Aruba French.” Ref. Michael Joseph Savage funeral provokes Wellington grief; Stuff

Image ref. French and Savage at the races; Sir George Grey Special Collections

Image ref. Mr and Mrs French; NZ Herald 1935

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