SESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13937, 21 July 1917, Page 2

SESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

ALLEGED IMPROPER COURSE FOLLOWED. I PROTEST BY MEMBERS. / ~_ (Per Preaa Association.) i WELLINGTON,' July 20. Tn the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon the usual Sessional' Committees were,- on the motion of Ministers, set up.

Dr. Thacker protested against the constitution of the Lands Committee, there being, he said, "too many Reform Tories on it." The proportion was nine to five, which was altogether an inadequate representation of the Liberal Party.

Mr D. It. Guthrie (Chief Government Whip) explained, ihat as the Governor's Speech indicated, only war legislation would be introduced th'l3 rc-sion, he did not think it necessary to- revise the constitution of any committee; therefore, the personnel remained the same as for last session's committees.

Air Wilford said it was ciiuonnryHo consult with the Liberal Whip in the sok'i'tioii of committees. This year tin's hiii! not been done,' ami no considered the course followed most improper.

Mr Guthrie replied that as there was no party in the House now there was therefore, not the necessity to consult the Liberal Whip, The members selected to sit on this committee were so selected only because of their deep interest in the land question. Mr Jennings pointed our that while the greatest amount of land settlement was going en in the North.lsland, the Lands Committee, as proposed, had a majority of South Island members on it. That i was not considering the best interests of the Dominion.

The Premier, in. reply, said the. discussion was a surprise to him, as. the motion to set up this committee had l)Mii before the Hons'e for several days and not a single complaint had reached Dr. Thacker: I asked you a question about it the other day, and you said, "We are a happy family." llr Massoy: So we are; Dr. Thacker: We are not. \ Continuing, Mr Massey said that while the National Government existed no party measures would be submitted to Parliament;- He regretted the Liberal Whip had not been consulted, but he was quite ready to meet the wishes of the House, and would add the name of Mr Jennings to jjie committee. . This was agreed to on the voices.

Further discussion tcok place on a similar point raised in connection with the constitution of the Labour Bills Committee, Mr Payne protesting that lie was being deliberately kept off the .committee on account of jhis attitude in the House. The constitution * the committee remained unchanged^ An additional committee was set up to take into consideration the position of the export meat trade, with special regard to the operations of the American Meat Trust. '