THE CHIEF JUSTICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 220, 28 June 1943, Page 5

THE CHIEF JUSTICE

ABSENCE FROM RECEPTION. FURTHER STATEMENT MADE. (P’.A WELLINGTON, June 2G. The Chief Justice (the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Alyers), in a letter to the “Evening Post,” replies to Hie remarks of the Alayor (Air ’l’. 0. A. Hislop) concerning the invitation for Tuesday’s civic reception to Lieut.-General Sir Bernard Froyberg. He states that, after a conversation between his associate and the Town Clerk, he himself telephoned the latter, who said that the Alayor’s instructions were that scats were not- to bo reserved. The Town Clerk volunteered to see the Mayor again, and 10 or 15 minutes later telephoned to say that the Alayor would consider the request.

Sir Afichael adds: “1 said that that message merely added to the insult, and that the matter could not rest there. He said: ‘ 1 am sorry, but 1 am only obeying orders.’ He suggested that I speak to the Mayor myself, and I answered, ‘ Certainly not.’ “It is correct that the invitation was delivered at my chambers about 9.15 on Tuesday morning,, but without a word of explanation. I desired, if J. could, to avoid possible embarrassment to others, and it occurred to,mo that that might bo overcome if the Alayor, even at that late stage, was prepared to withdraw gracefully. I therefore telephoned the Town Clerk and told him T had received the invitation and could not attend the reception, end that I proposed taking a certain course of action which, however, could bo avoided by the Alayor at once sending me (but not for publication) an expression of regret for his insults of the previous day ”

Sir Alichacl adds that lmd an expression of regret been made, it would have ended the matter, but nothing was heard from the Alayor. At no stage during the conversations had there been any mention of a difficulty in regard to seating or otherwise. REPLY BY THE MAYOR. WELLINGTON, June,27. A further letter to the editor of the “Evening Post” from the Alayor of AVellington (Air T. C. A. Hislop) was published yesterday. It reads: “The Chief Justice omits to say that his secretary was definitely informed by the Town Clerk that ho was not to assume that no invitation would be sent, but- that it was held iqi in the meantime. This is the crux of the whole situation, and has been overlooked by the Chief Justice.

“The reason for this temporary bolding back of the invitation was simply to enable consideration of the arrangement of the platform seating to bo completed. As I stated in my previous letter, we had to endeavour to find room for GG persons on a platloini that accommodated normally only 55. The puisne judges were invited to the audi torium only but it was a condition that the Chief Justice should be seated in a prominent: position on ihc platform.