AN INFORMAL BEPUTATISN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 4

AN INFORMAL BEPUTATISN.

STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Sir Joseph Ward rose in tho House of Representatives yesterday afternoon to denv a statement which Inil boon made by Conirado Cooke at n Socialist Mooting hi Chrisleliureh, and repotted in a Iress Association telegrnni. Mr. Cooke had said that tlio Prime Minister received an antimilitarst deputation, and gave them a sympathetic iep!y, and exacted a pledge of secrecy. "Whoever nimlo that statement, said tlio Prime .Minister, "it is absolutely untrue. I was askeil by a member of tha House if 1 would receive a deputation, linmiiiK soiiio of the people who wished to be present. I Mifonncd him that during (he lio-coniUlencc debate I had declined, ami rightly so, to receive deputa* (ions on public business, and that I was not prepared to receive any deputation on a matter that might be the subject of referenco during the debate. At his roiiucst, however, I finally agreed to recelva tliom privately, and I gave them the rcason why, under (ho circumstances, tu usual courso could not be followed. The suggestion that anything in tho shapo of secrecy was imposed, or asked for, or insisted" on bv ino, is absolutely contrary to fact. I told the half-dozen people who were present that it would have to ha regarded as private ami confidential for tho raism given, but there was no reason .why their speeches mid my remarks could not have been published trom end lo end of New Zealand. 1 protest against this distorted and garbled version of what was said. J don't propose lo go into the matter of the Defence Act lit present, jis my views are perfectly well known, Mr. Lauroiison explained that a deputation had court- up from the Peace ho. MPtr and was anxious lo see (lie 1 rima Minister. The latter stated that lie objected to receiving deputation* while- n 'motion of no-confidence was being discussed. Ho, however, agreed lo sec thorn in his room, and I hoy could telle over matters but lie did not wish the press to be present. lie received tho ilepnta. lion purely in an informal manner, and there was 'no pledge of secrecy asked for, Mr. Robertson bi-ra out what Mr. Lailrenson had said. He did not know under whet ci-rcinnstances the deputation had boon arranged, but- nothing was said Hint might not nave been published under or. dinarv circumstances. Mr. Payno also gave testimony to th« occin-acv 'of tho Prime Minister's statenioiit. No mention of secrecy was, ho said made.