PARLIAMENTARY VISIT UNAVOIDABLY POSTPONED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 16 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY VISIT UNAVOIDABLY POSTPONED

OWING TO BAD WEATHER. (C NITID PB*SB ASSOCItiiOS) WELLINGTON, This Bay. A party of about 40 Parliamentarians intended leaving i'o Nelson by the Tutanekai to-night, but owing to the north-westerly gale the trip was postponed, WHY THE TRIP WAS POSTPONED. (By Telegraph.—Special to Mail.) WELLINGTON, This Bay. The trip was not postponed by the Parliamentarians for fear of rough weather, but by Oaptain Post’s statement, about'll o’clock, that the Tuianekai could not arrive in Nelson 'before four o’clock on Saturday afternoon. , , .. The Prime Minister was telephoned and asked whether Monday’s sitting ot the House could bo adjourned. Mr Massey replied that ho did not wish'io discourage anything necessary to assure the success of the trip, but the sitting of the House on Monday was unavoidable. . , Members on tiTio TutfinokfU tucn TOoognised the advisablenc.ss of postponing the trip. When this was made, seven or eignb of the party were in bed, including the Hon. Mr Lee Minister of Justice, and Sir O. Carncmss, Speaker or the Legislative Council. ’All members expressed regret at

* the ,unavoidable postponement. If a guarantee of arrival in tune to carry out the programme cou d have been given ,a majority would have faced the storm, which was raging at eleven. * . The next attempt will be probably made-on Friday, October 30th. DISAPPOINTMENT AT POSTPONE- , MKNT. Keen disappointment was felt when word was received in Nelson this morning that the visit of the members of Parliament had been postponed, very complete arrangements having been made, in Nelson, Mapuu, and Motueka for the entertainment of the visitors. Tb© Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr E. R. Neale) received' the following telegram from Mr At- • merer—-“ Heavy gale prevented Tutanekai putting to sea. Visit jposfcponed. Writing; telephone Mapua.” The Mayor (Mr W. W. Snodgrass) and. the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce (Air O. R. Fell) this morning 'sent the following telegram to Messrs Atmore and Hudson, M’s.F.: — “Have heard from Press trip abandoned. Lovely day here, extremely* sorry party did not avail themselves of Nelson’s hospitality and Perfect weather.” Mr R. P. Hudson, M.P., wired to the ' Mayor of Nelson this morning as follows '—“ All went on board last night. I and others went to bed. Informed , this morning that at midnight captain decided weather too bad to cross. Exceedingly sorry for disappointment which I feel has resulted.” In reference to tlie telegram sent by the Mayor and the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, we have received the following signed by Messrs Hudson and Atmore:— “The use of the word ‘did’ instead of ‘could’ suggests it was optional, whereas members referred to were extremely anxious to go, and with'the rest of the party slept on board. The captain decided at midnight not to take his ship Out on account of the gale. Tho members are very disappointed, having looked forward with pleasurable anticipations to the visit to Nelson, Moutere, and Motueka, and regret the inconvenience caused to residents who kindly made arrangements for reception.”