Invitations For Mr Kirk

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31041, 22 April 1966, Page 3

Invitations For Mr Kirk

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 21. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) will be invited to appropriate Royal tour functions for the rest of the Queen Mother’s visit although this was not in keeping with past practice, the Prime Minster (Mr) Holyoake) said tonight. Mr Holyoake said in a statement that after published criticism of the fact that Mr Kirk had not been invited to welcome the Queen Mother at Bluff, he had ' -lephoned Mr Kirk and assured him that he found that the director of the Royal tour had followed established precedent in arranging the guest list.

It was a Government welcome extended by Her Majesty’s ministers. Mr Kirk had assured him that he understood the position and that he had made no complaint, Mr Holyoake said.

But, said Mr Holyoake, his own view was that although it had not been so in the past, the Leader of the Opposition should be associated with the Government and he had taken steps to bring this about. Even before the latest moves, Mr Kirk had been invited to the service of commemoration at the National War Memorial, Wellington, next Monday. Mr Kirk, however, regretfully declined but had arranged to be represented by Mr R. L. Bailey, M.P. for Heretaunga. Mr Kirk had also been invited to the wreath-laying ceremony at the Citizens’ War Memorial, Wellington, next Monday but also regretfully

declined this and arranged for Mr Bailey to represent him. The latter function was not a Royal tour one, however, Mr Holyoake said. These functions were arranged by the Wellington R.S.A. Mr Holyoake said he had

now arranged for Mr Kirk to be invited to the reception on the Royal yacht Britannia at Wellington next Tuesday, to the farewell reception on the Britannia at Auckland on May 3 and at the official farewell at Auckland international airport.