LACK OF HOSPITALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20678, 25 September 1930, Page 12

LACK OF HOSPITALITY.

SIR T. WILFORD CRITICISED.

COMPLAINT BY MR. D. JONES. PLEA FOR BROAD SPIRIT. [BX TELEGRAPH.—-SPECIAL ltlSl'OßTEn.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. "I want to say that not one ponny of the £4OO voted tho High Commissioner for official entertainment was spent on me while I was in London," said Mr> David Jones (Reform— Mid-Canterbury) during the discussion on tho Internal Affairs voto in tho House this evening. Mr. Jones recently visited England as chairman of tho Meat Board.

Mr, Jones said although ho was the only New Zealand mombor of Parliament in London at tho time ho had not received an official invitation to tho Empire dinner. All Sir Thomas Wilford had dono for him was to writo a letter.

Mr. W. L. Martin (Labour —Raglan) : Didn't ho shout for you? (Laughter.) Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform—Palmerston); Didn't you get a ride in tho Rolls Royce ? Tho Minister of Health, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy: You do not suggest ib was a studied slight? Mr. Jones said ho was not blaming the Government, but he thought an intimation should bo given to Sir Thomas Wilford that he should treat offioial visitors in the broad New Zealand spirit and not regard them in a narrow party spirit. Mr. Jones said he had told Sir Thomas' second in command that ho intended to raise the question of his treatment when ho returned to New Zealand and the next day he had had a most effusive letter from the High Commissioner. However, he had only about three days left and had business to attend to so ho did not bother Sir Thomas again. Mr. Jones said that delegates to the Empiro Parliamentary Conference would be going Homo next year and he trusted Sir Thomas would bo. advisod to treat members on all sides of the House alike.

Reference was made by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Reform—Riccarton) to an item of £6O, being balance of purchase money on the "High Commissioner's. motor-car. Mr. Kyle understood it was a boautiful ear, , although Mr. Jones had not been invited to rido in it. Mr. Kyle asked where the balance of the money was hidden in the Estimates. New Zealand could take a leaf out of Australia's book and cut down the expenses of the High Commissioner's office. Mr. R. McKeen . (Labour —Wellington South) and Mr. W. E. Pariy (LabourAuckland Central) declared that Mr. Jones had been shabbily treated by the High Commissioner. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, said he very much regretted to think the High Commissioner had so treated a member of the House and ho would certainly make representations to the High Commissioner.