The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1917 THE WELCOME TO MR MASSEY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 289, 3 July 1917, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1917 THE WELCOME TO MR MASSEY

"We nothing extenuate, nor tet down auaht in malice."

The arrangements made by the Franklin County Council for the entertainment of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, M.P.) on Monday next aw a welcome to him from the people of Franklin on his return from England to New Zealand have come in for some criticism by reason of the fact that the evening portion of the proceedings consist* of a banquet, for which a charge of 15s is to be made. The Council's aim purely and simply is to afford the public an opportunity to do honour to Mr Massey, in his capacity as member for the Franklin electorate, on his arrival back from the important mission in which he, in conjunction with Sir Joseph Ward, has been engaged and to that end they have organised a "free" reception to take place next Monday afternoon, followed by a dinner in the evening. Despite war conditions time honoured banquets nre still emblematic of the British race and wc fail to see that any just argument has been advance'! that such a gathering should not take place. We think everyone will admit that whatever form the proceeding* were to take the ordinary code of hospitality would require (hat Mr Massey and his col-

leagues should be entertained at dinner and we can imagine what a howl of indignation and resentment would arise if a chosen few were asked to partake of the repast with the ministerial party. A public invitation to all was therefore very naturally determined upon by the County Council. As a matter of fact the Council in their arrangements have only followed on the lines of the function that was held in Pukekohe on the occasion of Mr Massey being entertained on his appointment as Prime Minister but owing to the increased cost of food, labour, etc., the price of 15s, 'instead of 10s, as before, has had to be fixed for the tickets. After this explanation we trust that the people of Franklin, whether or not holding the opinion that another form of greeting should have taken the place of the dinner, will loyally support the Council in their effort to suitably entertain Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, and other members of the Cabinet, whose presence as a body in Pukekohe can only be looked upon as an honour to the electorate represented in Parliament by the Prime Minister.