AMBIGUOUS SPEECHES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5321, 3 September 1928, Page 4

AMBIGUOUS SPEECHES.

UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE. EX-LORD MAYOR OF LONDON. Sin Charles Wakefield, Bart., speaking at the festival dinner of the Printers’ Pension Corporation, held at Connaught Rooms, London, said that the Press was unflaggingly generous in its aid to hospitals anjd. benevolent work generally. He acknowledged with deep gratitude the many kindnfcses he h.a.d received at the hands of the Press, and added : — “I have had one unforgettable experience of the power of the Press. During my year of office qs Lord Mayor 1 w:a.s present at a luncheon at the Cannon, Street Hotel, which was to be addressed by the then Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, just before the function began a telephone message came, from the Prime Minister. He said that news had just been received of the death of Lord Kitchener, and had to announce the tragic event to .the city. The pnparajlel shock caused by the terrible and unexpected blow to the, national cause will not soon be foygotten. In allu'sion. the great disaster I made use. of wqrds, to the effect that in the truest sense of the word Lord Kitchener was not dead, that his spirit would go marching on|, inspiring us to final victory. In one newspaper that appeared- with a heading, ‘Lord Kitchener -not dead, says Lord Mayor,’ a,n,d at once there; were rumourst and a large and excited eroded gathered round the Mansion House. Thus did 1 learn, in, tragjc circumstances, of the special care which public men must take in avoiding ambiguity in their public announcements”