RECEPTION OF DEPUTATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 4

RECEPTION OF DEPUTATIONS

MINISTERS INCONVENIENCED. A CHANGE DECIDED ON. (Fiom Ook Own Correspondent.) . WELLINGTON, August 50. In the future deputations will not be received' by Ministers during the session except on Saturday mornings and Mondays. Referring to the matter'in .the House today the Prime Minister skied that the custom had grown up for deputations from various parts of tho-Dominion to request Ministers to receive them at very short notice, even during the sitting - hours of Parliament. Not infrequently when a Minister was required to be present at a sitting of a committee in the mornings, cr to bo in his place in the House, in the afternoons or evenings he had to meet a deputation. As a result of consideration it had been decided not to receive any deputation or interviewers during the sittings of Parliament. In nine out of II instances the representations could bo just as well made by members or by correspondence. Apparently.. it had become nn understood fact that deputations could be heard at fivo minutes' notice. In consequence of so many deputations, and the i«uuu ».'. which they. «uac.„o2 i Minisiac*-'

had been unable to get through their work during the ordinary hours. Whenover members -wished to introduce deputations Ministers would do all in their power to facilitate matters. The proposed alteration was very -.necessary as the position had become intolerable