1.-7

Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE: REPORT IN REGARD TO (1) PROCEEDINGS OF SELECT COMMITTEES, AND (2) PROCEDURE ON THE MOTION FOR "THE PREVIOUS QUESTION."

Report brought up 17th October, 1906, and ordered to be printed.

REPORT. The Standing Orders Committee have the honour to report that they have considered the matter referred to them by the Order of Reference of the 26th day of September in regard to proceedings of Select Committees, and also that of the procedure on the motion for the previous question, and they recommend — (1.) That the following new Standing Orders be adopted, viz. : — 236 a. " The preceding Order shall not apply to the proceedings of a Committee if the House shall bave ordered that such proceedings be open to accredited representatives of the Press; and any Committee may, by resolution reported to, and adopted by, the House, direct that the whole or any part of its proceedings shall be so open." 169 a. " If the motion for the previous question be negatived, the debate proceeds." (2.) That Standing Orders Nos. 230 and 231 be consequentially amended as follows, viz. :— At the end of Standing Order No. 230 add the words "Except when the House shall have ordered that the proceedings shall be open to the Press." That Standing Order No. 231 be consequentially amended by striking out the words " by courtesy " and adding at the end thereof the words " unless when the proceedings are open under Standing Order No. 236 a." (3.) That, in view of the extension of the privileges of the Press provided for by the proposed new Standing Orders, the Committee recommend that any newspaper whose representative infringes the Standing Orders of the House be disqualified from representation in the Press Gallery for such term as the House shall direct. (4.) That the Standing Orders, as amended, be reprinted prior to the next session of Parliament. (5.) That this report be adopted, and that the Chairman present the same to the House this day, and move that the consideration thereof be made an order of the day for Thursday, the 25th October. Wm. J. Stewaed, 17th October, 1906. Chairman.

Authority: John Mackay. Government Printer, Wellington.—l9o6