BUS REGULATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3774, 13 July 1926, Page 37

BUS REGULATIONS.

STRAIGHT TALK FROM MR COATES. WELLINGTON, July 9. One of the Prime Minister’s large family of new members paid the penalty in the House to-day of freely airing his view before acquainting himself with the. customs of Parliament. The interlude in an otherwise dull afternoon was caused by Mr Harris (Waitemata) raising an objection to the composition of the committee which the Prime Minister proposed should be set up to consider the motor bus regulations. Mr Coates had named the following as the committee:—Messrs J. S. Dickson, Fraser, Forbes, H. Holland (Christchurch North), Howard, E. P. Lee, MacMillan, Savage, Sidey, Tapley, the Hon. Mr Williams, and the mover. Mr Harris who is a member of the Government Party in the House said that the committee was not one that would be expected to bring in an impartial finding. Mr Speaker objected to the use of the term ‘ impartial.” Mr Harris said that in that ed.-e he did not wish to 1 pursue that line any further except to say that he did not tnink the committee was one which would get the best result. Ho suggested tha: the names of Messrs Potter and Forsyth should be added to the committee. The Leadei. of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) said that that would mean that the Government would have nine out of the 13 members on the oommittee. If anyone got further representation on the committee it should be the Nationalists. At this stage Mr Forsyth, the recently elected member from Wellington East, rose and came to the attack with his defence thrown wide open ‘‘l desire to inquire from you,” he said, addressing M<r Speaker, “the principle on whioh these cemmittees are being set up.” He went on to add that as a new member he wag a bit puzzled. Mr Hplland had spoken of party, but Mr Forsyth thought that the committee should be elected without any such consideration with a view to getting the best results. He was on one committee out of about 200 places, while others were on several committees. Some

members were overworked on the committees, but he did not altogether object to being relieved of work though he had nob said that he desired to avoid his share. He suggested that the committee had been made up by a sole selector, and to such, a system of. selection he was entirely opposed. If it were a disqualification to carry in a petition against the regulations then he would be ineligible, but at the same time several of those on the commit- ; tee would be ineligible also. “I object/' he declared, “to a sole selec- ! tor, and to the question being looked at ' from the party point of view.” “I fancy we got a little wag from the tail this afternoon, when members objected to their own leader appointing commit- 1 tees,” remarked Mr E. J. Howard, the : Labour member for Christchurch South. , Mr Howard said it had been the custom for the leader to appoint the committees. He was one of the committee, but he had no reason to want to go on it. He had not taken any part in discussing whether the regulations were right or otherwise, but when Mr Harris questioned the personnel of the committee he was casting a reflection on every member who happened tp be unlucky enough to be on the committee. As to Mr Forsyth, Mr Howard said that when he came into the House as a new member he Inade the unfortunate mistake of objecting to some of the forms of Parliament. He warned Mr Forsyth not to continue making the same error. \ Mr Harris craved the indulgence of the House to make an explanation. He said he took no exception to the members of the committee, but thought the matter so important that a fair and impartial hearing should be secured. Taking the proposed committee, there was, for instance, Mr J. S. Dickson, the chief Government Whip, who obviously would have ! to support his party. Mr Fraser (Labour) rose to a point of order. Mr Harris, he considered, was doing the exact thing the Speaker had prevented him from doing. He was attacking the impartiality of the committee. The time to criticise was after the committee had done its work. Mr Speaker said that Mr Harris was quite out of order to suggest that the com- J mittee, or any member of it, would show : any partiality whatever. Mr Harris said he was trying to point out that the House must look at these things in a sensible way. Obviously certain members must vole in a certain direction. There were three Labour members on the oommittee and they were pledged 1 against private enterprise in any form, and 1 their vote must be influenced by that. \ Labour members: No, not at all. Mr Speaker requested Mr Harris to die* . continue. j Mr Harris said that he simply moved now j that Messrs Potter and Forsyth be added j to the committee. \ Mr Speaker put the question, asking if ■* there were any objection to this course. 1 Mr J. S. Dickson objected, and, as 1 unanimity was necessary at that stage of ] the proceedings, the names could not be ( added. j Mr Coates said he had quite an open, ' mind on the subject. He did not mind ! one extra man being added to the com* j mittee, but objected to two being put on. ) Mr Fraser: Will you adopt my suggest tion and add Mr Harris? Mr Coates: I am quite agreeable. j Mr Harris- I suggest Mr Potter. I Mr Coates had no objection, and Mb Potter’s name was added to the list, ancf 1 the committee w-as appointed. Mr Coates then turned his attention to ' Mr Forsyth. “The member for Wellington', East,” he began, “reminds me of an inno*] cent abroad.” Mr Coates doubted if Mel Forsyth was quite in a position yet to! criticise the action of the Government, or I that he knew quite enough to enable him. to criticise his Leader’s action in selecting! the committee. Mr Forsyth: I did not mean you. I wafl told it was someone else. i Mr Coates said Mr Forsyth must have! meant him, as he (the speaker) selected thW committees, and if he did not know he ought to nave known. Mr Forsyth wa* quite unwise in criticising his “and that’s that,” added the Prime Minister. Mr Coates went on to say that if M* Forsyth had any objection to any actiouj of his he would far rather be oame and told him privately. He asked Mr Fonytw to remember that he had been sent the*# j as a party man to support the Government j which followed the custom that was beinffii pursued in setting up this committee. 1