EVENING SITTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8220, 25 August 1906, Page 6

EVENING SITTING.

Sir J. Ward obtained the permission of the House to bring on the Sessional Committees. Mr Allen criticised the composition of the Committees all round, complaining that a few favoured individuals were on a great number of Committees, while many vere left with almost nothing to do. Mr Massey. declared this to be the first time when a member holding the position he occupies in the House has been left out of the Public Accounts Committee. On the whole he felt flattered, as it showed that the Government feared his persistent vigilance, and power of research. They wanted darkness —not light. Moreover, this Committee—the most important of the House—was not provided with any power of calling for persons and papers. The Premier: "That's been done." Mr Massey: "That is not a reason why it should not bo done now." He called upon the Government to bo true to tneir alleged reputation for business capncity. Mr Barclay resented being on the House Committoe when he could do good work on the more useful Committees -Ls>w, Labour, the Library to wit. Mr Fisher detailed numbers of members on four or five Committees, while many good men were put on ouly one. Mr Ell said that he felt very keenly being loit off the Labour Bills Committee. He thought it very inexpedient to whittle the Waste Lands Committee down to ten, and ha regretted there was not a single city member on it. He would move an amendment in those directions at the right time. Mr W. Fraser said the reductions were right and the compositions wrong, and denounced the exclusion of the Leader of the Opposition. The Premier interjected that it was so last Parliament, and was contradicted by several members. Mr R. Mackenzie was sorry that Westland, Nclaon and Marlborough, with 90,000 people and man millions of acre 9 were not represented on the Lands Committee. Mr Hogg offered to withdraw from the Accounts Committee to ease the position. Mr Flatman rebuked the Leader of the Opposition for making insinuations wbiob he knew to be baseleis, and urged the Government to show they did not fear him by addiug his name to the Committee. Mr Herneß, who thought Mr Massey ought to' be on the Committee, urged that there was not a single North Island member on the Committee. 'lhe Premier explained that he had suggested to a member of the Public Accounts Committee to make room for Mr Massey by retiring, but had been refused. Be objected to the very unfair insinuations made by the otber side tbat. some new thing was being done by the Government for sume Biuister purpose. The Premier thought if the Opposition leader wanted, for any reason, to alter the order and style of things •which had beeti unaltered for years, he ought to make his proposition and give reasons. That would bo fair and proper. But he had uo right to insinuate that there was anything wrong. For his part he would be very glad to see the Leader of the Upposition on the committee. The following committees were elected without discussion Extension, Commerce, Public Accounts and Railways. Before the last committee waa elected, Mr Massey suggested the appointment of a Public Works Committee, aud the Premier replied tbat the responsibilities of the Government ought not tu be transferred to a committee. •The other committees, eleoted on the voices, were:—Reporting, Debates, Stunding Orders, .Local Bills, House, Native Affairs, (after slight discussion), Goldfielda aud Mines (after a protest from Mr Herries against the exclusion of the member for Bruce. It was explained by the Minister of Mineß that seven members had to be reduced to bring tUe committee to ten, and the Government had taken off five Government and two Opposition), Petitions A to L, Labour Bills, Stock Statutes Revision. The Waste Lands Committee was stopped first by Mr R, McKenzie's objection on the ground that Nelson and Westland were not represented; next by Mr Barolßy'a proposal to increase the numbers from ten to ■fifteen, which, after some discussion, was lost by 44 votes, to 14; thirdly by a general discussion which began with North versus South and got to Leasehold versus Freohold and many other things. Mr Massey advised the Government to adjourn the debate and consider the position in the light of the dissatisfaction apparent. Later on Mr Aitken moved the adjournment of the debate, and the Premier asked the House not to prevent the Minister of Lands from replying by adopting the amendment. The motion waa lost by 17 to 47. At 11 o'clock the Minister of Lands replied. Bo stated, for the information of the younger members, that this turuxoil is usual on the appointment of the Waste Lands Committee. He pointed out the difficulty of forming the Committee, and went into the matter fully. I'ne Waste Lands Committe was eventually elected on the voices. The House adjourned at 11.25 o'clock.