SUPPLY OF HANSARD.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13930, 12 July 1917, Page 3

SUPPLY OF HANSARD.

SUGGESTED CURTAILMENT OF REPORTS. MEMBERS' PROTESTS. ' (Par Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 11. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, it was announced that the Joint Printing and Reporting Debates Committee recommended that twenty-five copies of Hansard be supplied to each member of the House of» Reprosenta-

tives, and live to each member of the Upper House, also that non-essential matter be not reported in Hansard, and that the reports be judiciously condensed, but full shorthand notes bo taken. The debate on the report will be taken on Wednesday.

11l the House of Eeprcsentatives. Mr W. A. Wright brought down a rejiort from the Printing, Reporting and Debates Committee, which recommended a drastic curtailment in the reports of proceedings of the House in Hansard, on account of the shortage of paper. The fit. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward hoped that consideration of the report would be adjourned to enable members to-ac-quaint themselves with the real nature of the proposals. He strongly deprecated any infringement of the priviliges of members. He thought the people had a right to know how their representatives were discharging their responsibilities.

Mr John Payne moved that the report be laid on the tabic that day six months. Its proposals aimed at the liberty of the members, and infringed the rights of' the taxpayers. The motion was lost by 45 to 14.'

As there seemed to be some considerable misapprehension amongst.members as to the proposals of the Committee, the debate was, on the motion of the Hon. G. W. Eussell, adjourned for a week.

The chairman of the same Committee also brougkt down a report, recommending that the number of copies of Hansard supplied to each member be reduced to twenty-five, and to members of the Legislative Council, live. The Hon. G. W. Russell said that last year eight thousand copies of Hansard were printed, each member receiving seventy-live., copies, and Ministers ninety. The present proposal was to put members and Ministers on the same footing. He stressed the shortage of paper, and said if the House insisted on printing the full number of Hansards as before, such publications as the School Journal must be discontinued. He left the responsibility with the House.

The debate was continued till 5.110 p.m., when the motion was talked out.