THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7894, 19 June 1891, Page 5

THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES.

A COMPLETE DEADLOCK.

(FROM OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT). WELLINGTON, June 18. When the House went into Committee this afternoon to consider tho Sydenham Endowment Bill Mr Perceval was voted to the chair. Thereupon Sir John Hall, with neat humour, congratulated the Government upon their solution of a difficulty and Mr Perceval himself upon his election to the office of Chairman of Committees. For some time, as they all knew, there had been considerable difference of opinion as to who should fill that position, and he thought a very wise selection had been made. Mr Bryce pointed out amid some laughter that Mr Perceval had been appointed " for this day." The vexed question of the Chairmanship of Committees seems to-night to be further than ever from a satisfactory settlement. On both sides there exists a very earnest desire that Mr Perceval should take the position, but he is strongly disinclined to do so for several reasons. He is reluctant to grasp one of the few prizes in the gift of his party, especially as there are several loyal members of the party to whom the emolument would bea matter of valuable consideration. Then he thinks that his having taken the chair temporarily on two occasions to relieve the House and the Government of a difficulty might be misconstrued as indicating a desire to seize the position; and further he feels that the Chairmanship might in some degree tie his hands and close hie mouth on occasions when, in the interests of his constituents and of his party he would wish to be free to speak as he deemed heat. For these reasons he has made up his mind to decline the position, and unless some fresh, argument can be brought to bear to shake his decision I am disposed to regard it as final. He insists that Mr W. C. Smith's qualifications for the post have been unduly and needlessly deprecated, and that he would make a fair Chairman in spite of his disadvantage in some respects. I hear that Mr Hamlin'a chances have waned more and more since last week, when he was looked on as almost safe. Some of the Ministerial side say plainly that they will not agree to his election, and will vote against him if he is proposed. Unfortunately some of the Opposition are also antafoniatio to him, and so are understood to be ir G. Grey and Mr-Bees. In these circumstances there seems but little prospect of his being chosen, but the Electoral Bill is to Dβ committed to-morrow, and that means a long and difficult test tor the Chairman of Committees, besides which Committee of Supply has to come on. Mr J. W. Thomson has been mentioned as a possible Chairman, but apparently without authority. There is a revival of feeling in favor of the rota plan, in spite of its numerous drawbacks. So far, however, the question has reached a complete deadlock, and it is impossible to predict with any certainty how the deadlock will be released.

(from oub correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 18. Mr Saunders has been appointed Chairman of the Public Accounts Committees and Mr Thompson (Marsden) of the Waste Lande. Mr Thomson informs mc that no overtures have been made to him regarding the Chairmanship of Committees. Female suffrage will be adopted this session, and the privilege of women being permitted to vote will be embodied in the Electoral Bill. A careful pricking of the card shows that 44 members are in favor of the reform which Sir John Hall has championed for some sessions.