SELECT COMMITTEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2234, 4 July 1908, Page 1

SELECT COMMITTEES.

[Srr.cuii to “Timcs.”].

WELL}JSG'!’_ON, July 3PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. Tho usual Complaint was made todav about the Government keeping the Loader of the Opposition off the Public Accounts Committee. Air. James Alien said tho Loader of: the Opposition should most decidedly lie on such an important committee.

Mr. Afasscy further suggested to tho Prime Alinistor that such nil important committee should have power to call for persons and papers. Sir Joseph Ward, .in reply, said this would bo a. dangerous practice, because in delicate financial transactions it was important often that certain matters should not bo ffiado public- As to .putting tlio Leader of the Opposition on the Coinmitteo lie would bo'Tory glad to put him cm it if Mr. James Allen would resign in bis favor; Mr. Alassoy said lie would not accept. a position on the committee on that condition. ’ Tho Prime Minister: “No- 1 know you won’t.” Ho added Hint a,, present the committee was a lad an red .one,' , , \ •" ... 1,,'.- .' I'Alf’y *.■)<sk: •' Alton said ho would, willingly resign in favor of Air. Massey. Air Massey refused to agree to this,, aiid tho committee .watt .a pinnated-' as proposed by the I’riiiie-Minister as follows; Messrs-Colvin, Flat man, W. Fraser, Graham, E. G. .Allen, J. Allen, Laurenson, AfcNab, AlilLs, and Sir Joseph Ward. ,

NATIVE ’AFFAIRS COAIAIITTEE. Mr. Davey complained • to-day of the constitution of tho Native Affairs Committee. Ho had thought thoro 'should bo more South Island members on it. They wanted an independent tribunal—bo did not spoak dm a personal sense—which they did not at present possess. . During a brief discussion that ensued, tliero was a passage of arms between Air. Hardy and Mr. Davey. Tlib- former said that the latter had told : him on many occasions that ho could not do his work on so many committees as ho Was on, in a proper way. Ho (Air. Hardy) said ho did. the work because he liked -it. He was a-glutton, for it. As a matter of fact, ho did more work on committees than any other member of the House, except Mr. Herries. Air. Davey complained that the lion,” member for Selwyn.,,should repeat' in the House what another member had told him outside tho House.

Air. Hardy said he was quite prepared to. let the House decide between himself and Air. Dave;. Air. Davey: I am’’ 1 quite prepared to do that also. '

Tho committee as,.sot up consists of Alessrs; A. L. D. Fraser, Grcehslado, Heke, Herries, Houston, Jennings, Ivailiau, Alander, Ngata, Parata, Stevens,- Thomson, Sir J. G. Ward and Hon. Jas, Carroll.