MEMBERS MAY LOSE SEATS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 11

MEMBERS MAY LOSE SEATS.

THREE ABSENT FROM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, December 5. A point of interest arises in connection with three members of the Legislative Council w’ho are abroad. Last session Sir Thomas Mackenzie, the Hon J. A. Hanan and Dr Collins were granted leave of absence from the Council for the duration of the session and under the provisions of the Legislature Act they are not entitled to Parliamentary payment during the period of absence and until the issue of the proclamation convening Parliament for the ensuing session. While there may not be any specific provision in the statutes it has also been held that if a member is absent for a whole session, and is still absent on the first day of the following session he is liable to forfeit his seat. The three councillors named are still absent and an interesting position may arise in regard to their places in the Council. The mover of the address in reply in the Legislative Council will be l\e Hon J. B. Gow. No arrangement has yet been made with regard to a seconder.

MR M’COMBS WISHED TO AVOID PUBLICITY. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, December 5. An unusual incident occurred while members of the House were being sworn in in the House to-day. All except Mr W. J. Jordan, who is absent abroad, and Messrs P. Fraser, E. J. Howard and J. M’Combs, who wished to be sworn in by affirmation, took the oath of allegiance on the Bible. Mr M’Combs intimated to the Clerk of the House that in order to avoid publicity he wished to make an affirmation with those who were being sworn in in the ordinary way in groups of four.

The Clerk of the House (Mr Kane) objected to this irregular procedure. Mr M ’Combs thereupon withdrew from the House and was not sworn in, while his colleagues Messrs Fraser and Howard each made an affirmation. The effect of Mr M’Combs’s action, therefore, is that to-morrow or on some other occasion he will have to proceed to the Clerk’s table and be sworn in alone, thus attracting the attention of the whole House and galleries upon him. Otherwise, he will not be able to take his seat in the House. Officially Mr M’Combs is not yet a member of Parliament.