THE WAIRAU ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 6

THE WAIRAU ELECTION.

fIHEACH OF PRIVILEGE QUESTION. .BINDINGS. OF COMMITTEE. ' ■ /'Mr..J. HANAN (Invcrcargill) presented the report of tho Committee of Privilege set ,up prior to the recent adjournment, hollowing is tho full text of the document:— .;Tho Committee of. Privilege appointed to inquire into and report on tho publication of a letter written by William Sinclair to William Can-'on March 2"i last, reflecting :on tho character of Richard M'Caltum, a member of this' House, has the honour to report that after taking evidence it herein finds:

!. (I) That. the. said letter was written by William Sinclair and sent by him to and received by William Carr. (2) That a copy of this letter was signed by William Sinclair and sent by him to and received by.William Andrew Veitch,' a member of Parliament, under cover of a letter addressed to the said William Andrew Veitch, marked "private and confidential."

(8) That William Andrew Veitch. gavo tliß copy of tho letter referred to in paragraph 2, and recoived by him, to Richard M'Callum, on or about July 3, 1912. (4) Tho committee is of opinion that the said letter was published by the said William Sinclair, and is not a privileged (Communication.

The committco further reports that a desire was expressed by William Sinclair to be heard at tho Bar of *ho House before tho breach of privilege is finally dealt with.■ '.

(Signed) J. A. HANAN (Chairman). Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) asked the Prime Minister whether ho proposed to take any action in view of the committee's report.

The PRIME MINISTER replied that the .matter had been sprung upon him. Ho had not had the slightest idea that it was coming up that afternoon; Ho would like to have an opportunity of looking into tho report and evidence. This done ho would be able to inform the House as to the course lie proposed to take. > FIRST READINGS, Tho following Bills wefo read a first time:—Gaming Act, 1010, Amendment Bill (Mr. Hunter); Waitcmata County Council Empowering Hill (Mr. Harris); Unregistered Nurses' Registration Bill (Mr. Payne); Stunner Foreshore Empowering Bill (Mr. Laurehson). " CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. ..•; MR. F. ■W. LANG'APPOINTED. Tho Hon.' W. Y. MASSEY (Primo Minister) moved:—"That Mr. F. W. Lang be .appointed Chairman of Committees of this House." It was scarcely necessary, he said..to say anything..in support of tho motion. Mr. Lang was a veteran in politics, having been ■ eighteen vcars a member of Parliament. Ilc had good knowledge of the forms of tho House and tho> Standing . Orders; ho was firm, cautious, and thoroughly straight, and his election would give satisfaction to people from one end of the country to the other. The motion was carried on tho voices. Mr. P. W. L.YXG (Mnmikau) tendered his thanks to tho House for the honour that liaU/bei'ii conferred upon him.' He regarded it as a greater honour, he said, because it had been, entirely unsought by him. Ho would endeavour to discharge his duties with strict impartiality, and ho was sure he would have tho help and co-operation of his fellow hiembors in maintaining tho high standard set up by the New Zealand Parliament in tho conduct of its business. , His dearest wish wos that when the time came for him "to leavo his post, tho'verdict of his fellow members would bo that ho had carried out his duties with strict fairness.

Mr. O. AV. EUSSELL (Avon) congratulated Mr. Lang on liis appointment. Mr. Lang was one who, by the urbanitv of mariner, had made many friends, and although members on the Opposition •■ side of the House regretted that ,it; was not their tarn to elect a, Chairman of Committees, they were satisfied that Mr. Lang would fill the position with strict impartiality. The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) also offered congratulations to Mr. Lang.