AT THE CAPE

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 138, 13 June 1913, Page 3

AT THE CAPE

I VISIT OF H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND

CHARGES AGAINST LORD

GLADSTONE

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

(Post Correspondents IJONDON, Aiiril 30. f The question which Mr Newdigate, M.P., has given notice to ask in the House of Commons regarding: the entertainment of tho officers «tkT men of the cruiser New Zealand when she visited Capetown, has excited considerable attention in_ South. Africa. : Mr Newdigate's question was:— ! "To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, although his Majesty the King; bid God-sneed to the New Zealand when she left England, the Governor-

General of South Africa did not meet that ship on her arrival at Capetown; whether the Governor-General was not willing that the crew of that ship sihould be marched up to Government House, Capetown, for his Excellency's inspection, the Mayor of Capetown being anxious to read an address of welcome to them in the Town Hall afterwards; that this plan, in consequence, fell through ; whether his Excellency was present at- the sports got up for the crew by the local sports club; whether he was absent from the church parade held in the precincts of St. George's Cathedral, and from the subsequent service; whether he was absent from the official luncheon to the officers of the ship given by the Union Government at Groot Constantia, laving declined to preside at that function ; whether he was absent from the entertainment to the crow given in the grounds of Groot Schuur by the Dominion Government, although Government House is only a few yards distant; whether ho was absent from the 'at home' given by the Mayor of Capetown ; and whether all his Excellency did in the way of welcome was to invite some of the officers to dinner one night and accept an/ invitation^ to an 'at home' on board the ship?" Renter sends an explanation from Capetown, and states that >ihe facts are as follows:—

(1) It would be totally against precedent and against the regulations for tllie Governor-General to pay the first call on the New Zealand. It is customary for official visits, to be' exchanged. (2) The question of marching a crew to Government House for inspection was never even mooted.

(3) His Excellency did not attend the official luncheon, because his intention was to make Captain Halsey the central figure, which would have been impossible if the GovernorGeneral had. been present. For the same reason the Admiral was absent.

(4) Lord Gladstone did not attend the crew's entertainment at Groot Schuur because he was throughout the afternoon entertaining the New Zealand's officers at a garden party. (5) Neither his Excellency nor the Admiral attended the Mayor's "At Home for the same reason that they did not attend the official luncheon.

(6) Lord Gladstone's desire was to give an official ball, but this was impossible, because it was Lent. An official dinner was given to the captain and officers, to which the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Admiral, the General Commanding, and the Minister for Defence were also invited. Their Excellencies also took lunoheon on board the New Zealand, and attended Captain Halsey' s "At Home."

"Finally, Lord Gladstone took an active personal part and the keenest interest in all arrangements at the time, and for weeks beforehand. It was through his intervention that the New Zealand ever visited Capetown and Durban, the original plan including only Simon's Bay. The visit was a complete success, and no word of criticism or complaint has appeared in the South African press. The upcountry visits, which were equally successful, were also arranged on Lord Gladstone's initiative. At a public dinner last night his Exoellency lightly alluded to the matter amid laughter, and said the implied allegations were as unfounded as they were silly. The facts would doubtless be satisfactorily set forth, in th© House of Commons. "The Cape Times declares that Lord Gladstone's attitude on the occasion of th© visit of the New Zealand was perfectly correct. The last thing that fair criticism would say of the Governor-General is that he failed in the ordinary courtesies of life."