“WAITANGI PICNIC”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 2 March 1934, Page 5

“WAITANGI PICNIC”

COST STATED AT £IOO,OOO. HAMILTON, Thursday. An opinion that the Government had trtated Captain Ruslnvorth, M.P. ±o Bav of Islands, with the greatest d.scoiirtesv in connection Avith the lecui Waitan'gi celebrations, was expressed hv Air J. 11. Furniss, president of tin Waikato branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, at a meeting of the executive to-day. Air Furmss explained that although every county councillor and practically every member _ of Parliament in the Dominion received special invitations, with transport and seating accommodation arranged, Cap?ii nßushworth was not invited, and no a via nuements Avere made for Ins attendance at the celebrations held m his s“io. Mr Fur.iiss also slate,! h»t the Governor-General and the Alims terial partv toured the Bay of Islands electorate for a week after the celebrations, and once again the member for the district Avas ignored. . . . T, e cost of tho “Waitangi picnic ’ as it was termed, was also adversely criticised bv Air Furmss, who added that ( he had received from a reUaldo source that the ultimate cost of thi celebrations would be in the vicnntj ot Th’e °foregoing Avas referred to the Ho„ .T. A. Young, Minister ot Internal A “Tcan sav defintely,” said Air Young “that Captain Rushivorth and Mi-s Rushworth, along with every other member of both Houses of the Legislature were asked to the Waitangi celebrations bv invitation over the 1 nnu Minister’s'signature on 12th Decembei, 1933 Captain Rushivortfi did not reply Jo the invitation extended to lnm. It easonable to presume that, as tho member for the distnst, notwithotanding his failure to acknoAvledge the £ Minister’s invitation, he would S present on the occasion, and const- *.,,, reservations Avere made ot a 5 „ the official stand behind the dais for Captain Ruslnvorth and Mrs Bush worth. The seats were not claimed.”—(P.A.)