THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 6, 2 October 1920, Page 8

THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE

HOW THE LEAKAGE OCCURRED

EXPLANATION IN THE HOUSE

The, question of privilege raised in the House of Representatives on Thursday was mentioned s again yesterday., Mr. Howard (Christchurch South) had stated that copies of evidence taken by tho Labour Bills Committee had been handed to employers before tho committee had repoTted to tho House, and the Speaker had ruled that tho evidence was con-

. fnlential, and that any copy of the evi-. t dence handed to a person outside the cc-mmittee must be returned. Mr: Luke (Wellington North), the chairman of'the committee, raised the .subject yesterday.. He said that the secretary of tie Employers' Federation (Mr. W. Pryor), whoso name had been men- ' tinned, had stated definitely that be had not received any copy of . the.evidence., Mr. Pryor had taken notes, himself during the sitting of the committee and had communicated these notes to other per- ' sons. But he had not received any copy ■ of evidence from the secretary or any • member of the committee. • Mr. Howard stated that he had not oliarged Mx. Pryor with obtaining on official report. Ik had stated merely that evidence given before the committee had befcn communicated to employers, " nnd Mr. Luke had confirmed that statement A serious position had been oreated. During' Conciliation Council proceedings in two places theV representatives of the employers had been able to /state that they had read the evidence ' riven by a certain witness before the labour Bills Committee. This evidence 'dearly had been confidential. • The' Speaker stated that, the.Standing Order was clear on tlie point. Evidence taken by-a. select committee ought not to be published by any member of the committee er any other person.