HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7300, 2 December 1910, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

'£ technical breach of fbiyilegb. reflections on a select COMMITTEE.

Tho' Honso o£ representatives met at ■* A le*ttA y pnbUshld in, tho "Dominion” of yesterday purporting to bo written by tho member for New Flymoulh (Mr Okoy) to the Pnmo Minister, aEe„m nm-tialitv iu the hearing of the ilokau Jones case by the Public Committee, was tho subject of an hour s disin the House yesterday, when Hr T. H. Davcy, chairman of the committee, asked whether tho letter was not a breach of privilege. , . .. Mr Davcv said that Hr Jones had written to tho‘Prime Minister asking for an open inquiry, and in a covering letter Mr Okoy stated that tha committee had inflicted injury on Mr Jones by refusing to permit him to call evidence, and aad expressed dissatisfaction with tho commitUo owing to tho preponderance of. Governmen- members on it. - Hr Okay, in reply to Mr Davcy, said ho had not given tho letter to tho newspaper, but Hr Jones had had a copy of it. . Mr Davoy said that he must enter an emphatic protest against tho writing of a letter to tho effect that tho comimteo*s attitude was unfair, and ho would’ like members of the committee to cay whether or not he had acted fairly to Hr Jones, Air K. H. Taylor (Thames) said that ho had never seen a chairman act more fairly than. Air Davey, and the letter of Hr Okey was unworthy of a member of the House. . There had been io Mas against Air Jones, and it was time that the House passed a resolution expressing disapproval of tho attacks mado by Opposition members on those of the Government side. - Air W. T. Jennings (Taumarunui) said that the utmost consideration had been shown to Air Jones, and the committee should bo protected from tho assaults of Mr Okqy. (Air W. D. S. Atacdonald (Poverty Bay) sold he would like to ask Mr‘Newman, an Opposition member, whether tho committee had not treated Air Jones with the* utmost faimosa.

IVf’r B, Newman (Manawatu) paid that HWV. Macdonald had anticipated his inteiitiou. ■» Mr Jones had received absolutely fair treatment, both from the chairman and the committee. There had boon no party feeling on the matter, and every member had been actuated by a dosiro to assist Mr Jones, who, ho considered, had received absolute justice, Mr F. M. B- Fisher (Wellington Central) said ho had never sat on a, committee that had a more fair or impartial chairman than Mr Davey. Mr Jones, in fact, had received a favourable recommendation. The Hon. E. MoEenzio and Mr J. 13, Hine, also members of the committee, expressed their appreciation of the chairman's impartiality. DISSATISFIED ALL ALONG.

:Mr Okey said that all along he had "been dissa-tisiietl with the committee, and Mr Jones had bean unable to get a copy of the evidence, although Dr hindlay had been supplied with a copy. Mr Jones had been told that he could see the evidence if he applied to the clerk. Ho doubted whether it was not a breach of privilege for thb evidence to go out of the committee-room before it was reported on. Hr Maesoy asked whether the committee had not been out of order in allowing the evidence to go out. Mr Davey said that he was surprised that tho member for New Plymouth should endeavour to shield his misconduct behind that point. Ho had told Mr Okey, that ho could get the evidence, and had stated at the time that it was a breach of the standing orders. Mr Okey had not been man enough to say Mr Okey remarked that : he had not been told. Mr Davey said the denial was Incorrect. Ho added : that Mr Jones’s evidence had been mainly statements cei. suring Dr. Findlay, and he had told Mr Jones that Dr. Findlay would have to bo given a chance to refute tho charges. This could not have been done without showing him - the evtdence, and ho could not have produced the documentary evidence that lie liad to prove tho statements fcdse. _ - Mr Wilford (Hutt) said that Dr. Findlay had had the right to bo present, and .there was no impropriety in showing Tmttts the evidence. .. Mr Davey said that every opportunity >Ea<Ebeon -given. to_ Afr Tonee s counsel to * cross-examine witnesses, and no hiul •'donerso* Aftorwarde-ho^had;£ecn..xci;iia-

od tho. request to give rebutting evidence, as there would never have lj«*en an end to it. TECHNICAL breach. Mr Speaker said that no doubt a technical broach of privilege had been committed regarding tho evidence, and ho v.as of opinion that an amendment was required H> enable a witness to know what ho hud to meet. The point raised by i(r ‘Davcy was an abstract quest ion. His opinion was that any member had a right to communicate with the Government on the finding of a eomriiittoc, but if in it ho used ‘ language that would bo unparliamentary ox the floor of tho House- hr* would he guilty of a broach of prlvil go. He had not scon tho Jotter, and did not know whether tho iariininro was out of order. Tlio Hon. R. McKcnzio moved that tins hdtr-r should ho and a motion mado to the effect that a breach of privilege had taken place, but tho Prime Minister suggested that the incident should close, and this course was agreed ,to. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE The report of the conference between representatives of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives in regard to tho disagreement over tho Land Settlement: Finance Hill was presented. Tho Prime Minister explained that the conference adopted the amendment# which had been framed to prevent aggregation of areas, and fixed tho maximum holding at a value of .£2500. Mr Fraser stated that everything tho House desired had been provided. Tho roport-was adopted. BILLS IN COMMITTEE The Railways Amendment Bill (No. 3; passed its committee stage, all clauses 'relating to tho railway staff being deleted as promised by the Minister. Upon tho committal of tho Mining Act Amendment for further consideration. several mining representatives strongly objected to clause I&, requiring any miner to account for his possession of gold exceeding 21- ounces in weight. They considered it an insult to goldminers, who had never before been subjected to such a law. The Minister of Mines said ho always objected to tho clause when he was a private member. Whether in tho Bill or out. it would not be effective, and ho would take the feeling of the committee on tho voices. Tho clause was deleted.-' Acquiescing in the suggestion of Mr Poland (Ohiuomuri), the Minister moved that the clause providing that cages shall bo available in all shafts over 200 feet in depth shall com© into force in October next instad of in January, 1912. Mr Seddon moved to exempt all alluvial -gold from the levy for tho miners* relief fund, but the amendment was lost by 38 votes to 30. ■ Mr Massey raised the point of order that the clause providing for a contribution to tho miners* relief fund from every ounce of gold was an increase of taxation and should.he considered in Committee of, Ways and Means, and in any case would have to go Horae for tho Royal assent if passed, as it taxed royal metals. * 1 The chairman said that he was not disposed to stop the Bill at that stage, and Mr Massey said that lie would raise the point again on the third reading.

The Hon. A. R. Guinness moved a new clause that no workman in or about a mine should be required to work longer than four hours on Saturday, for which he should bo paid for a full day. The Minister said that the clause was in the member’s Miners* Half-holiday Bill, which was/not supported bv the minors, who had 'a. full holiday about once a fortnight. ■ Air Guinness said the remark applied to coal-mines but not gold-mines.

The clause was lost on tho voices. Tlio Bill was reported with’ minor nraenchuents.

. Ruling on Mr Massey’s point of order on the third reading, the Speaker said thb clause must go through Committee of Ways s and Means. The other, point might also bo valid, and to prevent delay it would be better to omit the clause and prepare a .special clause. The Minister agreed to put the Bill through Committee'of Ways and Means, which was done forthwith, and the Bill was passed. "WASHING-UP” BILL The P'rimo Minister moved the second reading of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodice Empowering Bill (98 clauses.) . # Mr Massey protested against the ac- • tion »of "■ the Government id bringing such an important and lengthy measure down at so lato a stage of the session. Mr Herries (Tauranga) referred to clause S 7 (18 suhclauses and a schedule of six parts), which embodies the scheme by < which the Government was to acquire parts of the streets round about the Parliamentary Buildings from the City Council in connection with the erection of new chambers. He wished to in spoct tho plans so that the proposals might be clearly defined. . The Prime Minister said that the plans had been laid bn the table, Mr Fisher (Wellington ' Central) asked whether tho Government had come , to any arrangement with tho owners of the property at the corner of Bowen street and Lambton Quay. Tho Prime Minister said it was desirable that almost all matters .should be legislated upon separately, and for that reason it was not advisable that Bills snch as. this should be brought down frequently. Apart from three* matter© this, Bill dealt with land. Negotiations were now being made, in connection with ,tho Bowen street and Lambton Quay ■corner. It might be necessary to take a section and hqnd back a nortion of it. Tho matter was now being negotiated between the Land Purchase Officer and the owners, and had not yet been eettled. The second reading wag agreed to. The Bill occupied a considerable time in # committee, and was reported with minor amendments. NATIVE LAND CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT „ The Native Lan<l Claims Adjustment Bill (Hon. * James Carroll) was put through its committee stage. , LIBEL LAW When the Libel BUI (Sir Joseph Ward) was committed, Mr Andorson moved to Include a public meeting on tho privileged reports. ° The amendment was negatived on the voices. Mr Herdman asked what was intended by the clause extending privilege*to rer ports of the acts and proceedings of the executive government or any department or officer so far as the publication was authorised or requested by a Minvifer of the Crown. The Prime Min> l or said it would protect a paper publishing anything given 'nit bv a Minister, sav. during the recess. TV* wa=- pp«s?d. Mr JeTrugs ■ (Tnurraninuu Hint fh- bm days allowed by the Bril nPlvn which n plaintiff fould eminence a series of libel actions against newspapers should \y> extended to one mon‘h. Ffe moved to amend the olnu*©, «u%titut"one month" for "ten days," The Ppm© Minister said the first action coukl be taken months , after the libel, tho limitation applying only to subsequent actions in respect of the same iiboL . _ The amendment was earned. Mr F. M. B. Fisher CVVollinston Central), quoting tho Sunlight soap case, said heavy damages had been properly obtained against several newspapers, but tho Bill, to his view, providing for|

consolidating actions, was designed to mitigate damages. He moved to nullify tin; clause to mitigate damages if U could be proved that the plaintiff had already obtained damages. Mr T. M. WiJford (Unit) remarked that the Hill was designed to give a man recompense, not to allow him to make a lortunc. By 35 votes to 18 the amendment was negatived. The House was left sitting when the <( Times” went to press. TO-DAY'S BUSINESS"When do you propose to take the Public Works Statement?” has boon a regular question of Mr Massey’s during , the past week. He repeated it yesterday, and was told by the Hon. li. McKenzie that the achate could be taken at 2.3 d p.m. to-day, or at 7.30 if the Bills on tho order paper'had not been dispisod of before. JOTTINGS The Government was recommended yesterday by tho Railways Committee to consider iho petition oi Samuel Vaiio for a trial of the stage system on the New Zealand Railways. ‘ . Fifteen meetings have been held during the session by the Railways (-ouimitU-e, to which mucty-iivo petitions wexo referred by tho House. With nno exception au were finally dealt with.