POLITICAL ETIQUETTE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 448, 5 March 1909, Page 7

POLITICAL ETIQUETTE.

MEMBER FOR STRATFORD SLIGHTED. STRANGE AND STRAINED RELATIONS. (BY TELEGBAPE—SrECUL COBREBFONDENT.) . 1 New Plymouth, March 4. An unfortunate incident, some say that it was an accident, occurred during tjje Ministerial' visit to Taranaki. When the various conveyances started out from Stratford, it was noticed that tho Liberal exmember for tho district occupied a seat in the Ministerial carriage, in which were also Messrs. G. A. Marchaut and ,W. A. M'Cutchan (chairman respectively of the. Stratford and "Whangamomona County Councils, at whoso instance the Minister was making tho trip), Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., A. E. Copping, 0. Mewhinnoy (Minister's secretary), and others. Mr. J. B. Hine, ■ member for Stratford electorate, was not allotted, a seat, but ho found a place in a cortland wagon that followed. Those in charge of the arrangements had been notified, on the previous evening, that .Mr. Hino would accompany the Minister, who had communicated to Mr. Hine his intention of touring through' the electorate. On tho way to Toko, tho 'wagon which conveyed tho mombor for the district forged ahead, and olouds of dust from the vehicle enveloped tho Ministerial party close behind. At Douglas this action was brought under tho notice of Mr. Hine by Mr. Marchant, and.a point of etiquette cropped up. Mr..Hino complained that he had been slighted .and insulted by tho promoters, who had denied him his rightful 'privilege of travelling with tho Minister. Ho further alleged that Mr. Marchant had usurped his seat next tho Minister. Relations _ wore strained, as they say in diplomatic circles, for the remainder of the trip, so far as somo members of it wore concerned. At Whangamomona no secrot was made of the fact that Mr. Hine, as an Opposition member, was not the choico of the local people. When tho banquet opened, visitors who were not "behind tho scones" were surprised to seo that, whereas Messrs. Symes and Jennings were at tho right of tho Minister, Mr. Hino was not present at tho function at all. Inquiries elicited tho fact that ho had not even been invited, although tho banquet was tendered to the Minister. Mr Hino mado 110 secret of his opinion that tho whole idea was to heap insult upon him, and ho promised' that there would be at least somo mention of it at tho. next meeting of the Stratford County Council.