“IN SECRET.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12754, 25 September 1919, Page 6

“IN SECRET.”

WHEN PREMIERS MET, (Special to tho “ Star.”) W ELLINGTON, September 25. There was a brief but animated passage of arms in the House yesterday concerning the visit of the Prime Minister of Australia to Auckland in January, 1916, a visit that was not chronicled in the Press at the time. “ Tho Labour Conference was sitting in Wellington in January, 1916. when Mr Massey was meeting Mr W. M. Hughes in secret in Auckland,” remarked Mr H. B. Holland (Grey). “ W hat?” ejaculated Mr Massev, suddenly looking up from a paper he was studying. “I repeat,” said Mr Holland, “ that T> a - nuar J’’ T9lo, at the time when the Right Hon William Massey and Mr William Hughes wore meeting secretly—"

“ There was no secrecy abont it,” exclaimed Mr Massey. • “ I here , was much secrecy about it. that the censorship' was used’to prevent people knowing Mr Hughes was there,” insisted Mr Holland. Massey answered tho member that that had had nothing to do with mm; it was for the safety of Mr Hughes m his trip to England.