HIGH COMMISSIONER

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1931, Page 3

HIGH COMMISSIONER

TREATMENT OF VISITOR. : MR. DAVID JONES’ COMPLAINT. The High Commissioner for Now Zealand, Sir Thomas Wilford, in a statement published recently replied to assertions made by'Mr. David Jones, -who represents Mid-Canterbury in the Dominion Parliament, regarding his treatment while 'in London. Mf;; Jones, in te.plying to -the .'remarks of -Sir Thomas, says his'complaint was not‘upon social but upon public grounds, and Sir Tho- , mas, in his statement; proved conclusively every charge he made. His statement showed that Mr. Jones did hot receive from him a .single invitation to- any public function in Britain, nor did he put in the visitor’s way at any time the’opportunity of meeting public men. ’ This was in striking, contrast to the treatment Mr. Jones observed- was•given' by the High Commissioners of other Do- ~ minions to their' visiting members of Parliament. . .

‘'‘Sir Thomas has; stated,” . -ays Mr. Jones, “that, as there was none available, he was unable to secure for me a seat in. the House of Commons to hear Mr. Snowden deliver his Budget. However, I secured a seat in the Distinguished Strangers’ Gallery fqr that debate., I think Sir Thomas was also present ’in ■the same seat, so perhaps- he will, remember .there were vacant places behind us. The. High Commissioner, bps- made excuses' as to why he. did'.hot . invite rhe to the New Zealand dinner, o£ which he was chairman. His excuses can deceive no one. I was then the only representative of the New Zealand Parliament ip Britain. He knew his duty—not to me personally, but to our Parliament —and he failed to do it.

In my statement in the House. I made other references which have been carefully avoided.' My object was to ensure that in future members of the House visiting Britain, irrespective of party, should be given by their servant, the High Commissioner, every possible facility to bring them into 'contact at the heart of the Empire with the men who are moulding our destinies,”