HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 1 August 1913, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. DV iTe • RanSihiroa was granted four clays leave of absence, on the grounds or urgent public business. NEW LYXN RAILWAY ACCIDENT. Replying to Mr J. H. Bradney, the Hon. \\ . H. Herries said that both the engineer or the Jvaipara train and the tablet porter at New Lynn had been dismissed as a consequence of the recent New Lynn railway accident. PUBLIC TRUST AMENDMENT BILL. The Public Trust Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message. Ihe Bill gives effect to the recommendations of the Commission. Two members outside the Service are to be appointed to the Board at a salary of £250. The appointment of Advisory Trustees is also provided for, and a Custodian of Trustees. The latter provision is to be taken from the English Trust Act. Power is given to investigate and audit trust accounts when damages are recovered in Court on .behalf of an infant or a person of unsound mind. Such damages are to be pand to the PublicTrustee. The Minister said that it would be seen that the measure aimed at making the Public Trust Office more popular, and also in the interests of poor people. The Bill was read a first time. MR ROYD GARLICK. The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved to set up a committee to which would be referred the statements of Messrs Wilford, Hanan/Foj-bes, and Laurenson, in connection with the appointment of Mr Royd Garlick. Mr T. M. Wilford asked if he, as a prisoner at the Bar, would be allowed expenses for the witnesses he proposed to bring before the committee. He had one from Eltham (a champion in the Olympic games last year), one each rron* Auckland, Masterton, and Christchurch and four from Wellington. He asked why he had not been allowed to pick his own jury, as Mr F. M. B. Fisher had done a few weeks ago. Then* ive»e six Government members on the committee and out .of ten six to four was not fair odds. He would stick to all he had said. He had received shoals of letters by every mail from all sorts of people applauding his attitude and condemning the appointment. Mr G. W. Russell said that the setting up of a committee was farcical The Government had a predominance of votes. There was no order of reference, and no matter what the findingwas it could only be regarded by the country as a farce. The House met at 7.30, and the debate on the motion of the Hon. A. L. Herdman to set up a committee, as to the appointment of Mr Royd JGarlick, was continued by Messrs R. McCalInm, G. Lauvenson, J. Payne, and F. M. B. Fisher. The Premier (Hon. W. F. Massey) said that the principle which the Government adhered to was that a son of a poor man would have equal rights with the son of a rich man. If the Public Service Board had been in .commission at the time Mr Royd Garlick was appointed, he was convinced that the same man would have been appointed to the position he now holds. There was not a more suitable man for the position, and he could say that he did not know Mr Rovd .Garlick. The Hon. A. L. Herdman said that he was prepared to appoint Mr J. A. Millar to the Committee, making it consist of Messrs. Guthrie, Scott, E. Newman. Poland. Sidev, Statham, J. C. Thomson, Hindmarsh, Millar, and Herdman. The motion was carried on the voices. CHRISTCHURCH ELECTRICAL SUPPLY BILL. The Christchurch Electrical Supply Empowering Bill (Mr Davoy) was read a second time, and the House rose at 10.55.