MONETARY COMMITTEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1934, Page 5

MONETARY COMMITTEE

NO LABOUR REPRESENTATIVE. [FEB PEEKS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, February 11. A deputation consisting of Labour Members of Parliament, headed by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr M. J. Savage, waited upon the Prime Minister, yesterday, with the object of placing before him the claims of the official Opposition to another representative on the. Monetary Committee which has been set up by the Government to investigate the monetary problem. The Opposition also presented its claim to be consulted as to who should be placed upon this committee before any appointments were made, and also in the matter of the ordei’ of reference. Replying to the deputation, the Prime Minister stated that the order of reference did not include any investigation into the existing monetary system, except in the way of reference to it when considering alternative schemes. Those who had alternative schemes, he said, had complained that they had no means of putting forward their proposals. This was their opportunity. A secretariat was to be appointed to the committee, and they would be able to conduct any cross-examination of witnesses for the benefit of the committee.

Mi’ Forbes said he could not agree to allow the Opposition to nominate its own members to the committee. The Government had to accept full responsibility in the long run. In the matter of the claim for another representative for the Opposition, he would discuss that with his colleagues and would reply later. If the present members found it impossible to act, he said, the committee \vould go on without them. ADVISORY EXPERTS. WELLINGTON, February 12. Two advisory and consulting experts have been appointed by the Government to assist the Parliamentary Committee which is to make inquiry into the monetary questions. They are Mr B. C. Ashwin, second Assistant Secretary to the Treasury, and' Dr. J. B. Sutch, of the secretarial staff of the Minister of Finance. Mr D. W. A. Barker, a member of the staff of the Treasury, will be secretay to the Committee. These three appointments were announced by Mr Forbes following a meeting of Cabinet on Saturday. There is a possibility of the expert secretariat being increased to three. The experts will have power to crossexamine witnesses appearing before the Committee.