THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1524, 21 August 1912, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

MEMBERS ANO HONORARIUMS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. H. M. CAMPBELL (Hawke's Bay) asked the Prime Minister, without notice, whether the Governmnnt intended to increase members' honorariums. Reports tol this effect had reached him both from his own district and from others. The PRIME MINISTER, said that no doubt thehon. gentleman was aware that an increase in t'ho honorarium of members could only lx> made by legislation. The Government- had no intention of introducing any such legislation. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Two (lays' leave of absence were granted to Mr. W. J.-Dickie (Selwyn), four days to Mr. G. Hunter (Waipawa), and five days to Mr. Malcolm (Clutha), all on account of urgent private business. Four days' leave of absence wejp' granted to Mr. It. W. Smith (Waimanno) on account of serious illness in his family. . OTIRA TUNNEL CONTRACT. The Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) moved that a committee of eleven members be set up to inquire into the petition of Messrs. Murdoclc M'Lean and Neil M'Lean for favourable consid 1 - eration and relief in connection with the Otira Tunuel contract. Committee to have power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum. The motion was 'agreed to. The committee consists of Messrs. Davcy, Lee, Nosworthy. Okey, Reed, Seddon, Veitch, the-Hon."W. Fr'a.=er, the Hon. R. M'Kenzie, Sir J. Ward, nnd the Hon. W. F. Mnssey. TAUPO-TOTARA PETITION. The Hon. FRASER moved a special committee be appointed to inquire into the petition of the Tauoo-Totara

Timber Company for railway extension anil other mattars in connection therewith. . ~ ~ , Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) said that tho committee was not fairly balanced in regard to parties and asked whether tho Minister would bo prepared to accept such a modification as would make tho balance of parties even. Tho Hon. W. FRASER said that as originally selected tho committee was evenly balanced bo far as parties were concerned. The name of the Hon. Dr. Pomaie had ■ been added ill order that there might be a representative of the Native race iipcm. the committee, llio Minister accepted a suggestion by-.Mr. Russell that the name of the Hon. A. T. Ngata should' be added. Tho committee was then set up. It consists of Messrs. Anderson, Buchanan, Buick, Dickie, Hindmarsh, Laurenson, Macdonald, 1 Wilson, Young, Hon. Er. Pomare, Hon. A. T. Ngata, and Hon. W. JFraser.