THE CORONATION INVITATIONS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10408, 31 August 1911, Page 5

THE CORONATION INVITATIONS

STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night

In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Sir Joseph Ward made a statement regarding the invitations to the Coronation. He- had, he said, received invitations marked "private," and was not in a position to disclose the contents. Mr Massey had seen the document addressed to the Governor, which really was in the form of an enquiry made by the Home Government with a view to sending invitations. Later he had suggested to Mr Massey that three Opposition and five Government members should go. His interview with Mr Massey was strictly confidential. Later an article appeared in the "Dominion" dealing with the matter. Someone had committed a gross breach of confidence. He had informed Mr Massey that he was prepared to give facilities to every member to go Home at his own expense, and suggested postponing the opening of Parliament till early in August, and putting off the elections till February. Mr Massey later informed him that he had discussed the matter with his party, and they had decided that they could not accept the invitation. As an outcome of that, he asked the Governor to cable Home to see if the matter could not be brought before parliament. The reoly he received was that arrangements hac} not progressed far enough to allow'the matter to go before the House. On October 6th,'an item appeared in the "PosE" concerning the visit Home, and at that time he had received no invitations. He read aletter from the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, which stated that the Lords and Commons' Coinmittee had forwarded the invitations'on 'February 23rd. He sent telegrams to' members, immediately on receipt of th£ communication. Only one member (Mr Rhodes) expressed his 1 willingries to go Home, the remainder saying the time was too short to accept the invitation. There had been no resDbnse from members.

Mr Mm.<?sey said he had respected Sir Joseph Ward's confidence. His party objected to the condition of the postponement of the session and the general election, and therefore could not Sir Joseph Ward (interjecting) : The eight members going had nothing to do with the suggestion that the House be postponed. Mr Massey said he understood the postponement would be necessary, He reiterated that there had been no breach of confidence on the part of any member of his party. He. had not given information to any paper.