DISCOURTESY ALLEGED

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1930, Page 7

DISCOURTESY ALLEGED

MR. D. JONES’ LONDON VISIT. ACTION OF HIGH COMMISSIONER. (By Wire. —Special to News.) Wellington, Last Night. The suggestion that he was not altogether satisfied with the treatment which had been meted out to him by the High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Wilford) was made by the Reform member for Mid-Canterbury, Mr. David Jones, in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Jones said he had called on Sir Thomas on his arrival in London but had received no entertainment from him. Mr. W. L. Martin: Didn’t he shout for you? (Laughter). Mr. Jones said he had neither been invited to the New Zealand dinner nor the Empire dinner. Mr. Martin: You were not of the right colour? The Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy): Do you consider - it was a studied insult? Mr. Jones; I will leave that question to the Minister to decide. During the whole time I was in London the High Commissioner did not do the slightest thing for 'me.” Mr. R. McKeen said he considered Mr. Jones had been very shabbily treated. In the first place Mr. Jones was a New Zealander and Sir Thomas Wilford was representing New Zealand and not the United Party. It was a very serious matter and the Government should see to it that Sir Thomas was informed that New Zealand visitors were suitably received when in London.

Mr. W. E. Parry suggested it was a serious thing for a member of the House to be treated as Mr. Jones had described and the speaker was sure that the member for Mid-Canterbury was not’misleading the House and that his feelings as a member of Parliament going home to be snubbed and ignored could be well understood. The Hon. P. A. de la Perrellc, Minister in charge of the High Commissioner’s office, stated in reply: “I very much regret that the High Commissioner so treated a member of this House and I will certainly make representations to the High Commissioner from my own office.” . Approval of the Ministers attitude was expressed by Mr. H. M. Campbell, who said he hoped Mr. de la Perrelle would fully represent the matter to the High Commissioner. A large amount of money was expended annually on the High Commissioner’s office and the least that could be accorded New Zealanders visiting London was courtesy and facilities to see the metropolis.