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Right Hon. the Prime Minister : So that if the papers are ready we can have them either mimeo graphed or printed. But. in any ease, I think the wish of the Conference is that the professors should read their papers. Professor Murphy : The professors could read them at any time you wish. Right Hon. the Prime Minister : Thank you. Mr. Nicholson : Is discussion to be allowed in open Conference, or has any rule been laid down by the Parliamentary Committee in connection with it ? Right Hon. the Prime Minister : None at all. Mr. Nicholson : The point is that if we have a thorough discussion of each paper in Conference it will do away with the necessity for much of our committee work. It appears to me that if these papers are of a more or less informative character, placing the views of the different sections before the Conference, the discussion of these papers will be more valuable if taken first in committee ; also that the final discussion of the papers in Conference will be of greater value if each committee has first discussed and reported on the various papers referred to it after the papers have all been read in Conference. lam just asking for the ruling of the Conference on that point. Right Hon. the Prime Minister : I think that is a point that certainly will arise, but 1 do not think we should take it immediately. After any one of the Professors of Economics presents a paper, it will be for Conference to say that it shall be dealt with as Conference thinks fit. I think it is now time that we should take the report of the gentlemen who met in committee in regard to the question of appointing a Chairman. Mr. Poison : In the few minutes at our disposal we had not time to fully explore the question, and we ask the Conference to allow us to report after luncheon. Right Hon. the Prime Minister : Yes ; that will be all right. I think, gentlemen, we can now adjourn till 2.15 this afternoon. At 12.15 p.m. the Conference adjourned accordingly. The Conference resumed at 2.15 p.m. •Right Hon. the Prime Minister : Gentlemen, we shall have to defer the question of the chairmanship, much to my regret, till a little later on. 1 propose, therefore, that we adopt the suggestion of Mr. Nicholson, that the papers of the professors be read, but not debated, and be printed if the committee deems it necessary. Mr. Nicholson : My idea was that the papers were for the information of Conference, and that the reason they were being classified and printed was to enable members of Conference to get the pros and cons .of each paper for their own information ; that copies of the papers would be given to delegates, and they would then have them for their guidance during their committee work. Mr. Tucker : I think we might ask questions on each paper after it is read. Right Hon. the Prime Minister : There is just one point—it might lead to interminable debate. Mr. Roberts : I am firmly of opinion that to give a paper and have no discussion on it in Conference will leave very much to be considered —very much doubt in the minds of each committee afterwards. Possibly the Conference may desire to hurry on; but it appears to us that the business of this Conference is so important that it cannot be hurried ; and it is doubtful indeed, if we say there shall be no discussion or questions on the papers, that that will help the Conference through. I suggest that we have discussion and questions, so that when each professor gives his paper we shall know exactly what it means. Delegates : Ha, ha ! Mr. Mainland : An excellent suggestion, Mr. Roberts. Mr. Roberts : I appreciate the humour of the Conference ; but, according to my experience, a paper may mean something different from what you anticipate when you read it. I suggest that every paper should be discussed, and that every person giving a paper should be prepared to stand on his feet and say what he means by that paper. It will not delay the Conference much, and everybody should be in a position to know what is meant by a paper. If we agree to the printing of a paper without discussion, we shall need to have a discussion after it is printed and another discussion after the committee concerned has reported on it to Conference. Mr. Bishop : We feel in regard to the discussion of these papers that the views of each group will be clearly set forth in the papers themselves, and that by the time all the papers are read it will be found that the views of the different groups have been very well ventilated without discussion. I would suggest, following Mr. Roberts's lead this morning, that the matter be referred to the Business Committee, to report to the Conference. We are prepared to submit the names of our three representatives on that committee. If we discuss the matter now in open Conference, we may not arrive at each other's viewpoint; but if three or four of us from each side get together we may arrive at a decision as to what discusson is desirable. Right Hon. the Prime Minister : Do you see any objection ? Mr. Roberts : No ; I quite agree, because I take it that the Conference will wish to discuss in detail some of the points raised b}' the professors. Right Hon. the Prime Minister: I think, Mr. Bishop, that is what you mean ; but that it be first referred to the Business Committee to decide when each paper shall be brought up, and through what avenue it shall be brought up. Mr. Nicholson : Ido not think it was intended to delay the reading of the papers this afternoon. Right Hon. the Prime Minister : No; but the question was raised whether they could be asked questions now, and I suggested that it might lead to interminable discussion. The point is where the papers should go, and the suggestion is that they should be referred to the Business Committee for classification and for decision as to the order in which thev shall be dealt with.

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