CORONATION INVITATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3310, 31 August 1911, Page 5

CORONATION INVITATIONS.

COMMUNICATIONS MARKED PRIVATE. PRIME MINISTER EXPLAINS, “A GROSS BREACH OF CONFIDENCE.” [PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.! WELLINGTON, August 30. _ In the House of Representatives this afternoon Sir Joseph Ward made a statement regarding invitations to the Coronation. He said lie had received invitations marked “Private.” He 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 inquiry made by the Home Government with a view to sending invitations. Later on he had suggested to Mi-. Massey that three Opposition and five Government members should go, but his interview with Mr. Massey was strictly confidential, but later on an article appeared in the “Dominion” dealing with the matter, showing that 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 ana putting off the (flections till February. Mr. Massey later informed him that ho had discussed the matter with his party, and they had decided that they could not accept the invitation. As an outcome of that lie asked the Governor to cable to the Home Government to see if the matter could not be brought before Parliament. The reply he received was that the arrangement had not progressed. far enough to allow the matter to go before the House. Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said that on October 6th an item appeared in the “Post” concerning his visit Home, and at that time he had received no invitations. He read a letter from the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, which stated that the Lords and Commons Committee had forwarded an invitation on February 23. He sent telegrams to members immediately on receipt of that communication, but only one member (Mr. Rhodes) expressed his willingness to go Home. He then sent a message Home saying that the time was too short to accept the invitations, and that there had been no response from members. Mr. Massey said he had respected Sir Joseph Ward’s confidence, but his party objected to the condition of the postponement of the session and the general election, and therefore could not go. Sir Joseph Ward, interjecting, saul that eight members going had nothing to do with the suggestion that those be postponed. Mr. Massey said he had 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, and he had not given informataion to any paper.