TEE WARD-JONES INCIDENT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 3

TEE WARD-JONES INCIDENT.

SIR JOSEPH APPRECIATIVE. fsrxcui. to "the press.*") WELLINGTON, November 27. In the House this, afternoon the Prime Minister read to the House the telegram sent by Mr David Jones (published in "Tho Press" on Thursday) repudiating the statement made in the "Lyttelton Times" that ho had made reflections upon the character of Sir Joseph Ward.

After reading the telegram, Mr Massey said: "After this ; I hope that the Leader of the Opposition will not take statements made in the "Lyttelton Times'> quite so seriously as he has boon in the habit of doing." Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that he wanted to express his thanks to the Prime Minister for the course that he so readily adopted in this matter, which he appreciated very much. "I also want to say," ho added, "that where a matter of such a personal nature as this reflecting upon mc, even indirectly, appeared in one of the leading newspapers of the country, and though opposed to the Prim© Minister, recognised to be a paper of high standing in the country, the Prime Minister will recognise that the only course open to mc was to tako the course I did. Personally, I am very glad to have heard the statement read by the Prime Minister from Mr Jones, and I want to say I appreciate his action very much."