CORRESPONDENCE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 422, 1 November 1918, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

MR MYERS AND THE CABINET Mount Eden Road, Auckland 19th Oct. 1918. (To the Editor) Sir,—l would be much obliged if you would give publicity to the following important facts: Last February a petition for the removal of a Cabinet Minister of German blood, signed by several thousands of Auckland wives and mothers, was presented to His Excellency the Governor-General who passed it on for consideration to the Cabinet of the New Zealand Government, which in turn rejected it. A copy of this petition with a covering letter and other literature was then sent to the Private Secretary of Her Majesty the Queen, who sent it to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 1 enclose copies of letters from the Acting Prime Minister and the representative of the Band of British Patriotic Women which will explain the position now existing concerning the important petition. These letters show that the Acting Prime Minister has refused us the democratic privilege, to which I am informed on good authority we have a constitutional right, of petitioning our Sovereign through his representative.—Yours etc., (Mrs.) A. S. BEDFORD. The following are the copies of letters referred to viz.: To Mrs T. C. Boscawen " Tresillian " Mount Eden, Auckland, Prime Minister's Office Wellington 9th September, 1918 Madam,—l have the honour to refer to the letter of the 18th April last addressed by Mrs Treacher, Mrs Bedford, Mrs Raymond and yourself to the Private Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen, covering copy of a petition regarding the Hon. Arthur M. Myers. In reply I beg to state that His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies has requested that the signatories of the letter in question should be informed that in accordance with established procedure communications for Her Majesty should be sent through the Governor-General and the Secretary of State for the Colonies.— I have the honour to be Madam, Your Obedient Servant (Signed) J. ALLEN Acting Prime Minister To Sir James Allen Acting Prime Minister Wellington 336 Mount Eden Road Mount Eden 13 th September 1918 Sir,—l beg fo acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 9th September telling of the receipt of Her Majesty's Secretary of a letter covering a copy of a petition concerning the Hon. A. Mietziner Myers. As I am the prime mover in this matter Mrs Boscawen has handed your letter to me for reply on behalf of the thousands of Auckland women who signed the petition. We infer from your letter, Sir James, that our communication will be prejudiced by not being sent through His Excellency the Governor-General. We shall be much obliged therefore, if you, as Acting Prime Minister, will be good enough to perform the necessary formalities in making our communication quite in order and so enable us to fulfil our obligations to the women of Auckland. As I have never written to you on this matter before, Sir James, 1 do not quite understand the expression "In reply "—I am, Sir James, Yours faithfully (Signed) ADA SHELLY BEDFOB 1). * To Mrs A. S. Bedford 336 Mount Eden Road Mount Eden Auckland

PrimeMinister|sOffice^^| ! 'l tfl aH tlfl : 'l ll >'';■ ffl vl efl <■ tfft.t bis memory should be per- f petuatrd locally as ho was born and reared in Nf\v Zealand. Wo are therefore making this special effort to establish a scholarship for the education of lads who may choose the sea as their future sphere of action. Tt will, thorefore, be realised that the Fund is ontirely for the benefit of New Zealand boys and as such—even on the ground of local self-interest—is worthy of support.— Yours faithfully, A.' BURT, Jun, Hon. Secretary, The Navy League Auckland. i 7, Customs Street West, Auckland I ....._ I