I.—B

1900. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTING DEBATES AND PRINTING COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE), IN THE MATTER OF CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO LETTERS WRITTEN BY THE HANSARD CHIEF REPORTER TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, AND PAMPHLETS PUBLISHED BY HIM; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE AND PROOCEEDINGS. (Hon. MAJOR STEWARD, CHAIRMAN.)

Brought up 17th day of July, 1900, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 3kd Day op July, 1900. Ordered, " That a Committee, consisting of ten members, be appointed to assist Mr. Speaker in all matters which relate to the reporting of debates and to the printing executed by order of this House, and for the purpose of selecting and arranging for printing Returns and Papers presented in pursuance of motions made by members of this House ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, Mr. Carncross, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Lethbridge, Mr. Pirani, Mr. G. W. Russell, Hon. Major Steward, Mr. J. W. Thomson, and the Mover."— (Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.)

Friday, the 29th Day of June, 1900. Ordered, " That Paper numbered 66, Correspondence relative to Letters written by Hansard Chief Reporter to the New York Times, also Pamphlets, be referred to the Reporting Debates and Printing Committee." —(Rt. Hon. R. J. Sbddon.)

KEPOBT.

In the matter of the correspondence relative to letters written by the Hansard Chief Eeporter to the Neio York Times, also pamphlets published by him. lam directed to report: That this Committee has inquired into the matter referred to in the order of reference of the 29th June, 1900, and finds as follows :— That Mr. Grey claims that the terms of his appointment of the 11th June, 1896, allow him liberty to take outside work after completion of Hansard and session, and that he has acted within the limits of his appointment. He admits cognisance of the report made by this Committee to the House under date the 14th September, 1899, but maintains that he was justified in acting in defiance of that report, by writing and publishing the matter referred to, the Commttee report notwithstanding, as he contends that the Committee has no power to vary the terms of his appointment. That, in the opinion of this Committee, it is no longer possible that Mr. J. Grattan Grey should remain an officer of Parliament, seeing that the report of the Committee of last year has been disregarded, and that Mr. Grey, as the chief of the Hansard staff, in his statement before the Committee this morning, refuses to recognise the authority of the Committee; therefore the Committee recommends that the services of Mr. Grey be dispensed with. 17th July, 1900. Wμ. J. Steward, Chairman.