MOKAU LANDS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1556, 27 September 1912, Page 5

MOKAU LANDS

PETITION OF MR. JOSHUA .IONES COMMITTEE. SET UP. Tho petition of Mr. Joshua .Tones, ol Mokan, Taramiki, which wns presented tf Parliament last week, gavo rise to d brief discussion in tho Ilouso of Itcprefionlalivps yestwdiy afternoon, whenit lie J'rimo Minister moved to Mf;t up a Cominillo'j coiisifitinfr of Messrs. Anderson, t'raigic, Dicliie, Marnier, and Statbam tc confer with h similar Committee tot niby tho Legislative Council, and b invostipalo the Hibjer.t-mattei' of tho petition, f3'hn Committee is to report to the Ilouso within 21 days*. The J'rimo Minister said that sine© riv« ing notice of the motion, ho hod added the words, "within twenty»onn days. Mr. Forbes: Tho session will be over b 'ThV Prime Minister shook his Jiend. Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) gmd that tlw inquiry wns no doubt desirable, but he thought thai: the personnel of the Committee would fail to command rcspect. Tho ablest lawyers on both sides should have been included, but, in fact, only one lawyer had been proposed as a member, and that ono wns a junior member of the Government party, lie was not rcferriiiK disrespectfully of the lion, member for Duncdin Central, but there were lawyers of larger experience in tho House. Mr. Rufsell also criticised the nomination of Messrs. Anderson and Craigie. In sotting up a Committee of laymen to inqmro into a matter that must requiro a thorough knowledge of tho law, the Government jiarf erred, and tho report of the Committee would not command respect. I Mr. J. Cramie (Timaro) said that if tho House fo desired, ho would retire in favour of the member for Avon. (Lauyhter.) Mr. G. Witty (Ricenrton) supported what had been said by the member for Avon. Mr. C. It. Wilson (Taumarunui), as tho member who presented tho petition, asked the Government to let the Committee st-rnd as proposed. It consisted of com-mon-senso jnen, who, in conjunction -with tlie members from another place, would endeavour to arrive at a fair conclusion in this matter. The lecnl fraternity had had bo much to do with it in the past that it would be advisable to have it dealt with' by a Committee of common-sense lovmei). The Prime Minister said that ho felt it his duty to protect members against the verv serious attacks made by tho Mnt-leadcrs of the other side of the House. It hod been said that the Committee would brinpr down a renort which would not command tho confidenco of the country." Mr. Witty: I did not say that, Mr. Massoy: No, but tho member for Avon did. This, he continued, was a joint-Committee, consisting of fire members from either House. Tho Council members would be Messrs. Anstev, George, Luke. Paul, and Km. He thought, hon. members generally would as-ree with him that a Committeo so cmnposfd was'a Committee of men of ability, men of l'nte»rity. '"en of common-sense, aud men of shrewdness. Mr. Witty: But not of le?nl training Mr. Massev: I differ with the lion, member. If they have not had teral training, they have had Parliamentary training, «nd I have noticed tliat Parliamentary training is often iw useful for OmmiH-ee duty ns leenl training. lam confident that tho numbers of (lie Committee will do (heir duty, and will bri"<? down a report -which will b* f-liorouffhlv awnroved from one end of Jsew Zealand to the other. The mot'Vm- setting up the Committee was agreed to on the voices.