THE CORONATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10175, 27 February 1911, Page 5

THE CORONATION.

EIGHT NEW ZEALAND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT INVITED; C FIVE GOVERNMENT AND THREE OPPOSITION. By Telegraph*—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Prime Minister has received the following cablegram through the Secretary of State, for the Colonies, dated London, February 24th :-r- "•. "Committee of both Houses of Parliatnent, representatives of'all* parties, wish-to convey to you a formal invitation to, eight members of the Domin- | ion Parliament to be their guests in London at the Wardorf Hotel from Saturday, June 17, to Saturday, July Ist, inclusive; This period includes the week in which the Coronation is fixed; place. : Applications have been made for the Earl Marshal,to assign them places in Westminster , Abbey. As-it is anticipated th&t those*accepting this invitation s may desire to prolong their visit 'U order to see thing of this country tl.'» committee: hope to be ablelater, on to, extend chev invitation for one woeii.' in order to cnablfe visits to'hi prijl U 'he more m liortant Euglisn t.»wi* It is not i "ssible to speaic i with f ertainty •» on the,point,at present; Owing the exigencies of space, it is not possible to include in the formal invitation to the Coronation and subsequent festivities; the wives and daughters of the members invited. At the-same time the Committee will be glad to provide hotel accommodation for one lady, being the wife or daughter, and in respect of each member that information be ■ sent to reach here by Marcli; 4th, giying full particulars as to the expected number of ladies coming, and whether wife or daughter in each case. In order to avoid misunderstanding and, disappointment, the Committee wish to state this clearly that though they can only recognise members themselves, as their forma,! guests, they will, do their utmost to make the visit, not only of members, but also of the ladies accompanying them, as pleasant and agreeable as pas-, sible.—Signed ; for the Committee, Chairman." Interviewed to-night in regard to the invitation, Sir Joseph Ward said: J "I am sending a copy of tins message to all the members of the House of Representatives, and asking them to telegraph their replies. I recognise that the time in which the replies have to be in London is short, and that it does not give much time for consideration by those to whom the message is being sent. It is. proposed, in the event of acceptance of members of the House, to extend it to five, Government members and three Opposition members. It will be noticed.from the cable that this invitation extends to the time named during the visit to London, and does not. of course, include the cost of passage either way. Personally T shall be exceedingly glad to see members of the ' House avail themselves of the,invitation, and that the full number invited may be able to go to London."