"AN INNOCENT ABROAD."

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 162, 10 July 1926, Page 10

"AN INNOCENT ABROAD."

REBUKED BY HIS LEADER.

DIDN'T LIKE SOLE SELECTOR.

TROUBLE OVEK BCS KEGL"LATIOXS

(By Telegraph. — Parliamentary Keporter.) WELLINGTON Friday. There was something of a squabble when the Prime .Minister moved the election of a committee of the House to consider the question of the bus regulations, Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) nsing to say that the personnel of the committee was not one that might be expected to deal with the matter in the most strictly impartial way. These regulations were of vital importance to a very big section of the community, and the utmost impartiality should he shown by the Parliamentary Committee dealing with them. Mr. Harris said he was not casting any reflections on the members named, but he thought it would be a better committee if Messrs. T. Forsvtli and V H. Potter were added. Mr. H. E. Holland. Leader of the Opposition, said that if two more Government members were added, the Government would have a majority of nine, as against three Labour members and two Nationalists. If anyune were entitled to an addition, Mr. Holland thought it was the Nationalists. If a Government member were added, then a Nationalist should be added also.

A Wag of the Tail.

Observing that it would be, in his opinion, in the best interests of the House to drop party interests in connection with the bus regulations committee, Mr. T. Forsyth, the new member for Wellington East, rose to say that he believed all committees of the House were selected by one man. He, personally, had been elected to only one committee, while other members were on three or four, and it appeared to him that some were overburdened. But while he had no complaint on that score, lie ■wanted to say he was entirely opposed to the principle of sole selection. He did I not know whether it was in the best interests of the House to follow the procedure of having one man as selector. Mr. H. E. Holland. Opposition leader, had complained that the Government had a majority on the committee, and— Mr. Holland: I didn't complain! Mr. Forsyth: Well, it is quite right that the leader of the Opposition should have a minority, but I think that a matter like this should not be a matter of party. Mr. *E. J. Howard (Christchureh South): I fancy we've got a little wag of the tail to-day! (Laughter.) When we get Government members objecting to their own leader appointing committees, they are criticising the forma and customs of this House. Mr. Howard thought that when anyone questioned the personnel of a committee, that member was casting a reflection on every one unlucky enough to be selected for that committee. He would have liked Mr. Harris, who raised the question of the personnel, to have stated liia reasons right out. Tcr some new members the forms of the House might appear almost useless, but the new member for Wellington East would discover later on that those forms had been built up on years of experience, and that they provided the only reasonable means by which the business of Parliament could be carried on. Mr. Harris said he had taken no objection to the majority of the Government on the committee, but had tried to point out that it was a matter of such vital importance that it should be given a fair and impartial consideration. Here Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) broke in to say that Mr. Harri3 was proceeding to do the very thing that the Speaker had previously stopped him doing. It was surely time to criticise a committee after it had done its worknot before. Mr. Speaker pointed out that any member was quite out of order in suggesting that any member of a committee would show any partiality, or that he would vote for the policy of his party. Mr. Harris Not Reflecting. Mr. Harris protested that he wasn't reflecting on any member of the committee, but was pointing out that the matter must be considered fairly: the Labour members on the committee were pledged to the policy of their party, and they were against private enterprise of all kinds. Cries of '"No! No!" from Labourites. Mr. Harris: Then there is another hon. gentleman— Mr. Speaker: Order! The Prime Minister said he had quite an open mind on the matter, and if there were any dissatisfaction he would be quite prepared to include either 3ir. Potter or Mr. Harris. Premier's Rebuke. "The hon. gentleman somewhat reminds mc of the innocents abroad." remarked the Prime Minister in referring to the criticism of the personnel of the committee which had come from his supporter, Mr. Forsyth. "After he has had a good deal more experience in this House," continued Mr. Coates, "one will be able to value his suggestions, but he is not in a position to criticise the actions of the Government, because he is not sufficiently acquainted with the forms of this House to criticise them." Mx. Forsyth: I was not criticising you, sir. The Prime Minister: You must do that, because I am the selector. The hon. gentleman must be very careful before he criticises his leader over the gentlemen he selects, and I want to tell him that if he is critical of any action I take he can inform mc privately. Constitution of Committee. Turning to the constitution of the committee the Prime Minister stated that the proportions iron', a party point of view- were seven to three. Imt for the purpose of giving a more ittianced representation he had ma<le it seven Government to four Opposition members. To select committees without reference to parties was to do away with party government altogether. The member for Wellington East had been sent to Parliament as a party man. to supj>ort the Government, which had followed precedent in selecting its committees. Tlie Prime Minister added that be was quite willing to meet tiic wishes of thee House in this particular matter, and if could have a larger committee if i e wished. Howexer. if two more Government members were added ho would certainly take another from the other side. The original motion «a.- adopted, and as Mr. Harris, when the Prime Minister mentioned his name. MrPotter, it was understui"! t '.a; the latter would be included !>y |m.-b:iij; a separate motion on a later oivaMun. The committee consist? if Messrs. JS. Dickson, P. Fraser. G. W. Forbes, H. E. Holland, E. J. Howard. K. P. Lee, C. E. Macmilla , M. J 6a\ae, T. K. Si<*ej". H L. Taploy, Hon. i£, S, Williams, »«* the Premier.