THOSE IMMIGRANTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10414, 7 September 1911, Page 6

THOSE IMMIGRANTS.

CABLE TO HIGH COMMISSIONER. J AND THE REPLY. I By Telegraph — Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon Sir Joseph Ward stated that he had cabled the High Commissioner in connection with the article published yesterday, relative to three millions of people being required in the Dominion, and asking him to look up the "Westminster Gazette" of July 22nd, which was said to contain a statement issued by him. He had to-day received the following reply: — "Re 'Westminster Gazette,' 22nd July; had not seen this until receipt of your telegram .of sth September. Statement was not made by me. Was extract from 'Otago Witness,' 10th May, issued by our advertising agent, who selects paragraphs from New Zealand papers for circulation, after first submitting rt'hem for approval. This was not done in present case. —Hall Jones." The Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that the exact words published in Wellington were to be found in the "Otago Witness," of 10th May, page 15, which he proceeded to read to the House. The "Otago Witness," he added, was a well-known Opposition ' journal. It only showed, he said, what damage was done, or attempted, by such criticisms, and the wild misrepresentations and misleading statements appearing in a section of the Opposition press. Mr Massey pointed out that the "Westminster Gazette" published the article as an extract from a long article issued by the High Commissioner. Sir Joseph Ward said it was impossible to suppose that the High Commissioner could have done anything so silly. The advertising agents of the Dominion in London were outside the High Commisisoner's oflice, and it was perfectly clear that the High Commissioner had nothiug to do with the publication of the article in question.

In answer to Mr Herdman Sir Joseph Ward .stated that he presumed the advertising agents were paid a percentage on the advertisements that they got published. Mr Allen said that if the advertising agents were to be paid to cut out paragraphs and publish them, they should get them approved before publication. Sir Joseph Ward said the paragraphs were in the form of letter-press, and were not paid for.