OPPOSITION HAS MORE MEMBERS ON NEW PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

Evening Star, Issue 26154, 16 July 1947, Page 4

OPPOSITION HAS MORE MEMBERS ON NEW PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES

(Special.) WELLINGTON, July 15. The first stage in selection of the 20 select committees of the ,H° use of Representaitvea was, notice given yesterday of motions, for their appointment, The personnel was indicated, and, as was expected there were five Government members and four from the Opposition, except in the case of the Maori Affairs Committee, a larger body, on which it was proposed by the Prime Minister that there should bo nine Government members and six from the Opposition. If there 'are objections to these proportions they will be raised when the motions are submitted for consideration. : , ' Ip the last Parliament the proportion was six Government to four Opposition members. The reduction or Government representation was not unexpected, and wilt serve a dual purpose. It may be taken by the Opposition as a recognition of the increased strength of the National Forty in the House, and it is satisfactory to the Government as- reducing the heavy burden of committee; attendance. The Standing .Orders. of . the House provide for select committees of not more than 10 or less tiiah five members, except in the case of the Maori Affairs Committee. The importance of com-’ mittee warJpis shown by the fact; that there ore fiO that duripg the session they are-almost continually at jvork Outside .actual House sitting-hours. Last session, in fact, committees were so busy that dispensation was sought on more than one occasion to-.sit while the House was actually in session. Opposition representation on these committees has grown steadily over the years. When the Labour Party swept into power with 55 seats in 1935, representation on committees was eight Government members to two Opposition members, In 1938 the Opposition strength.; partly duo tq the disappearance of most of the Independents, rose from 19 to 25, The committee representation became seven to three. In 1943 the Government could muster 46 supporters, including one Independent, and-committee representation was adjusted accordingly to six to four, , .