NO SACRIFICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17529, 12 July 1917, Page 4

NO SACRIFICE.

MEMBERS AND “ HANSARD ’

REPORTS,

• [Fjiok Oto Ccrrfspoxeext.] WELLINGTON, July 11

The committee responsible for reporting and printing debates recommended to the House to-day the curtailment cf the official parliamentary reporting. Kerb at im reports should, they suggested, be given in “Hansard” for the most important stages of business, but no report should bo given of speeches for the introduction of Bills. In other cases judicious condensation should he undertaken, but “ Hansard would preserve a .fall shorthand noto of ro-

marks. , , ~ . Sir Joseph Ward suggested that so important a proposal, involving a censorship over members’ speeches, should not be decided without due consideration. ■ Mr Payne obtained fourteen supporoors for ail unsuccessful motion that tho report should be received six months hence. “We might not be here then,” suggested 3lr Vigor Brown. For tho whole afternoon members wqighed the pros and eons of tho proposal, contrasting the value or free utterance through “Hansard” with the small saving in paper to be effected by condensation. Eventually adjournment time arrived without a decision, tho motion to adojjt the report being talked out, but Sir Joseph Ward announced that tho Government would give another opportunity for consideration.