THE MOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1507, 1 August 1912, Page 6

THE MOUSE.

SESSIONAL COMMITTEES, •The,,Hpuso of Representatives met at 1 2.30 p.m. • About an hour was'spent in transacting formal business, and notice was given by the Government of its intention to pro-' poso the setting up of sessional'conuuit- , tees. ' Sir JOSEPH WARD (Awarua) asked when tho whole'of the committees, to be f sat'up'would be announced by the .Government, ■ -Members must.- know- the' intended composition. of the wholo of the committees, in order that thev might discuss intelligently tho composition .cf -' . each, committed. ; , The PIIIME -MINISTER said that no- - tice with regard to the whole of tho com- ' mittees, ' with one' exception, would . Ijo given on the following day. Before proposing ;to -set. up'.uuy committees, the, whole of the committees would be duly given notice of. • Olio committeo must be -held-over in the meantime. ' Sir Joseph Ward.-AVlnit c'ommittco is ~ . that, mny_ I ask? • ' Tho Prime Minister:' The' Public Ac--1 founts Committee. ■ ! LEAVE; OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to tho :i , Hon.. J. A. Jlillar for one. month, on ac-, | count of ill-health, and to the Tlou. A. , T. Ngata for three days, on account of urgent private business. POSTPONEMENT PROPOSED. PRIVATE MEMBERS' PRIVILEGES. . The PRIME MINISTER said that as ho had some very important business tp bring forward, ho would iisk tho House toconsent tp . a .pastpon6nient. of tho discussion on-questions until the following \ day, # when the usual .opportunity, would Sir JOSEPH WARD asked what' tho .position would bo in regard to private members' business/ He could still hear the echocs of earnest protests .by. the lion., gentlemen opposite oil -occasions when private members' day had been trenched upon. Now the same thing was being repeated nt the very outset of the session.. This conld not be a worthy reform to start with. He trusted that the Primu' Minister would not commence by setting this bad example. Personally, ho would feel, so chagrined about, it that he would i not como into the House at all when questions were 1 ping discussed on (110 I'ol- ; lowing day. ("Oh. what n loss!" and laughter,) "Look what self-abnegation. -L (shall havo lo display," was Sir. Joseph Ward's concluding remark, Mr. G. WJ'L'TY .(.Riecartou) asked -whether tho sani» (ime would bo given to private members on another day. 4 The lion. T. MACKENZIE (pgmont) suggested that time , should be giv-en'Mr the discussion of questions on Fridav instead of on Thuivday. ; The PRIME MINISTER said Mint ho tccognised that it was- quite impossible to please .the present. Opposition. They were there to find fault and no doubt would rlo.it. He had not tho slightest idea of takirig away a -single jniniito of privato members' time and' had no objection to '' adopting, ths suggestion of the present Leader of the Opposition that questions should be discussed on Friday next. _ The ..motion was nnleiided. accordingly Und carried.