THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1870, 2 October 1913, Page 4

THE HOUSE.

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

Tlio Science and Art Committee was granted permission t-o sit that afternoon to complete its consideration of the Science and Art Bill.

NAVAL POLICY. j AiN ANNOUNCEMENT PENDING. SIR JOSEPH WARD (Leader of the Opposition) a3ked whether tho Primo Minister would indicate tho period within which the House might expect to have the proposals of the. Government with regard to tlio Navy laid before it. Tho matter was a very important one, and the whole country was interested. He liad understood some time ago that tho honourable gentleman was waiting for somo communication from the Imperial Government. Tho PRIME MINISTER replied: "I quite recognise the importance of tho subject raised, but I am not able yet to say on what date tho Government will be able to make tho announcement desired, for the simple rfcason that correspondence is still going on between tho Government of" New Zealand and the Imperial Government on tho subject of tho naval defence of. Now Zealand and its trado routes. As soon as we are in a position to do so wo shall make tho announcement asked for. All I cam say is that the annouiicement will be made beforo tho end of the. session, anct Parliament will be given an oportunitv of discussing it if it feels inclined to do so. As a matter of fact, a cablegram is going to-day from the New, Zealand Government to the Imperial Government on this very matter." Mr. J. Vigor Brown: Havo you received Hhe letter from Homo posted on August 8 ? Mr. Massey; Yes, a synopsis lias come to hand. It is being followed np by another communication.

Mr. Brown: You told tho House a fow weeks ago that you would make an announcement when that came to hand. Mr. Massey: Yes; but I am not able to do it. We have been advised by cablegram that it is being) followed up by another letter. ■ Sir Joseph Ward inquired if, without any breach of confidence, . Mr. Massey could indicate if there wero any essential poihts , of disagreement between the two Governments. Tho Prime Minister replied that when tho proper time cairio tho Government's proposals would bo given to the House for public information. As Sir Joseph Ward would recognise, there wero communications between the two Governments which it was impossible to make public. When the proper time came anything. that ivaft not confidential would bo divulged to the House. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. SIR JOSEPH WARD asked when tho Public Works Statement would .be brought down. Tho Hon. W: ERASER said that he had now got the Public 'Works Estimates nearly prepared, but printing and revision would take nearly three weeks' time in the ordinary course. He had told the, House some, tirno ago that he did not think the Statement .would bo brought down before tho end of October. He bow hoped to bo able to produce it before then. , EAST COAST LINE. In answer to the Hon. R. M'Kenzie, tho Minister of Public Works said that he had given instructions to run a free , excursion train over a section of tho East Coast railway about to bo opened to the Mount at Tauranga. MR. PETER HEYES. THE SPEAKER'S RULING. Mr. SPEAKER gave his decision in the question submitted to him by tho A. to L. Petitions Committee as to the right of the committee to call for,tho production by tho Minister of Internal Affairs of papors relating to a petition for an inquiry by Mr. Peter Heyes. Mr. Spoaker said in effect that it was tho function of, tho House to dofine tho pdwer of tho committee, and the committee, in order to settle the question, should ask the House to decide it. The Hon, W. F. MASSEY said the Government were anxious to what was right -in the matter. Tho Government had no objection to supplying tho committee witli any that was not confidential, but confidential information could not be supplied to the committee. He suggested as a way out of tho difficulty that the head of tho Department who had tho custody of tho file should go to the committee in charge of tho file, and then at the committeo meeting the Chairman of the Committee might have access to the file for tho purpose of deciding whether information was confidential or not. Oil no account, however, would confidential information relating to the business of private individuals not before the committee be divulged. SIR JOSEPH WARD said that if the course proposed by the Prime Minister were followed a dangerous precedent would bo established. Thcro was in the evidence which was being'icalled for information about tho taxation paid by private individuals. Mr. Massey: That must not come out. , Sir Joseph Ward objected to confidential matter on the file being made availablo to the Chairman of the Commit tee, who was not sworn to secrccy in the same way as a Minister of the Crown was. Ho was not opposed to Mr. Heyes having tho fullest inquiry into any grievance lie might have, but undor the Prime Minister's proposal it would be possible by making a charge against a man and having an inquiry instituted by a committee to obtain secret information about his private affairs which he had a right to expect would be kept confidential.' The Hon. W. F. Massoy said again that if the file was produced no confidential matter would be divulged. Tho Hon. R. M'Kenzio objected to a confidential file being made available to the chairman of a committee.

Sir Joseph Ward said-ho was satisfied tho l'rimo Minister did not dcsiro to do anything iwrong, but he was suggesting a dangerous procedure. As an alternative lie (Sir Joseph Ward) would suggest that Mr. Heyes be allowed to call all the witnesses he wished, and that they to examined on oath. The Hon. P. M. B. FISHER said that tho Leader of the Opposition was apparently under a misapprehension. There was no intention 011 the part of the petitioner or anybody else to disclose confidential information, but Mr. Heyes had assured the committee that the evidence relating to the tirt) cases under review could be taken from the file without divulging any secret matter. He did not approve of tho proposal that tho file should ha brought to tilt committee and that the head of tho Department should say what aliould ho read and what should not. That would not bo fair to the petitionee. Being informed by an interjection that the Hon. H. I). Bell had refused to produce tlie file, ho said that if tho Minister had refused to do this becaijse (X confidential matter in the file, the House oueht not to rnmpel him to produce it. Mr. J. H. BRADN'EY (chairman of the ennimitteel r.nid he had written to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking on behalf of the committee for certain

papers without tho knowledge that what lio asked for was confidential. He repudiated the suggestion that members of the committee were not honourable moil, fit to be trusted with confidential matter. Now, ho would simply recommend his committee to pass a resolution asking the Houso to request the Minister to produce the file. The formal motion that the report of the committee do lie on the, table was agreed to.