POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2507, 7 July 1915, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

. SECRET DEFENCE COMMITTEE. The first mewling of tho Secret Defpnco Committee was held .at noon yesterday, when the Prime : Minister (the ltight Hon. W. F. Massey) was appointed chairman.' Mr. Slaesey later stated that .preliminaries regarding the work of the Committee had been 'at-, ranged., The scalo of pensions for wounded soldiers- and their, dependents, which, was already under consideration, would come bei'oxe the Committeo m due course. ELECTION OF COUNCIL SPEAKER. • When the Legislative Council meets: this afternoon tho first business will bo the election by the members of a. Speaker. : - This will talie 'place bohind closed doors, and the procedure'will bo that Councillors, 1 on the first ballot-papor issued, will mark tlio names of'five members Whom they think are qualified to fill tho important position of Speaker. A second, ballot-paper will then'-be issued, containing; the names of the five Councillors who received tlio highest .number of votes on tho first' ballot.: Should any Councillor receive a majority on this'second ballot he will be declared elected, but if-there is an equal-: ity of votes nccordod, another., ballot will'be taken'; the four members receiving the highest votes to' bo included oil tho ballot-paper. THE MEMBER FOR CREY. The memlifer for Grey (Mr. P. C. Wobb) incurred the displeasure of Mr. Speaker'last niglit. Mr. Webb, in the course of some remarks regarding the cost of living, said that if the Prime Ministor would do certain things such as he charged him with doing, "he was worse than tlie Kaiser." • ' .• Mr. Speaker: That remark must be withdrawn. 1 The; hon. member must not compare any other hou. member .to the Kaiser. The dignity of tho House, must be maintained.- . Mr. Webb: Well, I withdraw the statement. I do not wish to cause any feeling between, the-hon. the Premier and the Kaiser. V