AN OFFENDED MEMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18223, 17 October 1922, Page 8

AN OFFENDED MEMBER.

OPENING OF A SCHOOL.

XO INVITATION RECEIVED. [BY TELEOBAPJJ. —SPECIAL REPORTER. 1 WELLINGTON, Monday. Suggesting that political considerations had been largely responsible, Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) complained in the House to-night thati He had not. received an invitation to be present; at the recent opening of the Curran Street publio school. The member said that not having received an invitation ha telegraphed to the Minister immediately prior to the commencement of the oeremony,

risking that his best wishes be conveyed to the parents and children. To that, he received a rc-ply from the Minister stating that the telegTam had been received after tne ceremony, otherwise it would have been read, and the position explained. The member said he then called for a report from the telegraph office and found that his telegram had been delivered to the headmaster before the Minister arrived at tho school, and he had further found that the telegram had been delivered to the Minister before the ceremony. Mr. Savage also commented on tho fact that the Reform candidate for the Auckland West seat had been extended the courtesy of an invitation denied him. The Hon. 0. J. Parr said he could not fay Jui't when the telegram was handed to*him, but he opened it when he returned to tho city. He reminded the member ■that Ministers ver© receiving communications at all hours of the day, and could not deal with them at once. The matter of sending out invitations was in the hands of the school committee on such cccaaioiis so that the member's grievance was with bis own constituents. Mr. Holland : But donft you think that a Minister should invite the'local member! The Minister said he always glad to see members present, whatever their politics. With reference to the suggestion that the Reform candidate was present tho Minister said that the candidate was Mr. J. Farrell, who was also the architect to the Auckland Education Board, and was there in his capacity as architect for the new building. Mr. Farrell had merely ieplied to the compliments which h*9 been paid to him on the completion of one of the finest schools ever built m the Dominion. As far as the Minister could tee there was no sugg«tion of politics in the whole business.