NOT INVITED.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19724, 14 September 1929, Page 4

NOT INVITED.

M.P.»S AND STATE LUNCHHON.[*HB PMSBB Sp«cl»l SerfiWj WELLINGTON, September 13. A little heart burning, because more invitations were not issued for the recent State luncheon in honour of the officers of the French warship Tourville, was apparent in speeches made in the House of Representatives to-day during the discussion in the Estimates of the Internal Affairs Department. _ The matter was raised in the first instance by Mr J. A. Nash, Beform member for Palmerston, who said he was not concerned that all the members o* the House had not been invited. However, as the French were our allies in the war, Mr Nash thought the Government might have invited members who were returned soldiers. Mr A Harris, Reform member for Waitemata, thought that as members of Parliament were at least among the first citizens of New Zealand, all members should have been invited. "1 understand it was decided at a conference that there should be a certain number of members from each side of the House," said the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. Mr de la Perrelle. Reform voices: Yes, two each. Mr de la Perrelle: Should the House desire more lavish expenditure in the future, I can assure the House we will invite the whole of the members. "I sincerely hope the Minister will not carry out that threat," said Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party. "It means a good deal of time and expense. I think the best way to meet visitors from abroad is to give a representative reception. The two members from each Party who attended the Tourville luncheon were, of course, the pick of the members. (Laughter.) No, I was not there," added Mr Holland. "However, I think far too much money has been spent in the past in providing dinners just for the sake of people sitting down and eating together. I suggest the Minister should cut out the eating part." An enquiring voice: And the drinking? Mr Holland: I am not suggesting the reception should be solely drinking. (Laughter.)