COMMITTEE OF TEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 13

COMMITTEE OF TEN.

PERSONNEL ANNOUNCED. THREE PARTY LEADERS. ■. if ■ INDEPENDENTS' CHOICE DELAYED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. ' The parties concerned lost no time in choosing their nominees for the committee of 10 members. It is announced that the representatives of the three main parties are as follows: — THE GOVERNMENT. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes. The Hon. E. A. Ransom. Sir Apirana Ngata. THE REFORM PARTY. The Rt.' Hon. J. G. Coates. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart. Mr. D. Jones.' THE LABOUR PARTY. Mr. H. E. Holland. Mr. M. J. Savage. Mr. J. McCombs. The members of the Independent group have not so far selected the one representative to which they are entitled, owing to two of their number, Mr. W. A. Wilkinson and Mr. H. M. Rushworth, being away from Wellington. It was decided to defer selection until Monday, urgent messages having been despatched requesting their return. It is generally believed, however, that the choice will fall upon Mr. Wilkinson. It is expected that the first meeting of the committee will be held on Monday afternoon. DAY OF EXCITEMENT. POLITICAL INTEREST REVIVED RESUMPTION ON TUESDAY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. " The events of the present session paled into insignificance in the House of Representatives this afternoon when the Loader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, was instrumental in making political history by securing the co-operation of all parties in the formation of a special committee of ten members, representative of all sections, to investigate the sgrious position of the' national finances and attempt the framing of remedial measures. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the atmosphere was electrical in the lobbies during the morning, for with the unaccountable rapidity with which rumours circulate through the precincts of the House it was generally known before noon that momentous developments could be expected. It did not take members long to grasp the full import of Mr. Coated resolution, which he submitted as soon as the House resumed after the luncheon adjournment. There is general agreement that its effect will be a temporary suspension of the Government's financial proposals for the current year as outlined in the Budget and that things political have taken on an entirely new aspect with the, possible di vcrs i° n °f the Prime Minister's plans into a fresh avenue. This, of course, is contingent upon the committee, whose first meeting will be held on Monday, coming to some arrangement to stem the financial drift and presenting a plan which Parliament will see fit to adopt.

Members generally were inclined to agree with Mr. Holland that the Reform leader's move meant that the Budget proposals would have to be recast and that in spite of the Prime Minister's having adopted what was to all intents and purposes a set course to square the national accounts, there was a decided possibility that the deliberations of the committee would to a reorientation of the financial scheme.

Mr. Forbes himself inferred, in reply to a question, that the recommendations of the committee might make it necessary to bring down a supplementary Budget and that the. present financial proposals of the Government would naturally have to be suspended in the meantime. Jt can bo taken for granted that interest in political affairs has been revived in a marked manner. More will lie heard of tho work to be done by the committee when tho House resumes on Tuesday.