A SECRET SESSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17065, 25 July 1917, Page 5

A SECRET SESSION

MR FORBES VOICES COMPLAINTS. MR HERDMAN'S VIEWS. (Feom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 2A. Many members of the House of Representatives have complained this session that the Government has not taken them into its confidence in regard to matters connected with the war. Reference to this was made by Mr Forbes this afternoon when speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate. Before legislation was submitted to Parliament he thought it would be a wise and proper thing to have a roundtable conference of members, with a free and frank discussion. They did not want to have the experience with the Second Division that they had with tho First Division of having to amend the pension allowance. Members of the House would have to be taken into the confidence of the Government, otherwise they would be at loggerheads. Tho debate had proceeded so far without hostility' being shown to the Government, but unless the Government took members, more into its confidence it would lead to trouble. Tho private members moved about among their constituents, and all the knowledge was not possessed by tho Cabinet. The Prime Minister: What do you suggest? Mr Forbes said they could follow the method adopted by the British Parliament of holding a secret session. In a time like this it should be Parliament government, not Cabinet government. if the Budget did not provide for the most drastic taxation ever experienced in this, country, or likely to be experienced, tho people would be very disappointed.' Our taxation, according to the last Budget, was only half, and in some cases, one-third, of that in the Old Country on the income tax. Wo should not lag behind tho Old Country. There would be great disappointment to the people if, when tho. Budget came down, there was no attempt at equality of sacrifice. The Hon. A. L. Herdman replied to much of Mr Forbes's criticism. Much of it, he felt sure, would be taken in the friendly spirit in which it was uttered, and would be considered by the Government. One would think the National Government was afraid. The National Government would not fail to enact taxation and eeoure large contributions, and he believed that even now some people were feeling it. At the same time, Mr Herdman deprecated mischievous taxation,. which served no useful purpose. There was no more fortunate or blessed country on the faco of the globe during these days of war than New Zealand. He understood that secret sessions had been held in the Old Country, not with regard' to matters of polioy, but more for the purpose of the Ministry being able to supply members with information which it could not otherwise without it getting into the hands of the press. Members of the House met every day. Did Mr Forbes suggest that they should go into another Chamber? That would only mean a change of rooms. Members made speeches, and the Government was only too pleased to get them to express their views. What did Mr Forbes suggest? Mr Poole: There is a reservation on certain matters.

Mr Herdman: There is no reservation. The House has been sitting for only three weeks. It is impossible to supply all the information which members require in three weeks, and if members want information why don't they ask for it? There .might be certain information which the Government could not give. 'Mr Forbes: When we criticise the Budget it will be taken as an attack upon it Mr Herdman: Not at all; criticise the Budget by all means.