PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

PRIVILEGE BREACH REVISED BY MR HOLLAND. (Per Press Association — Copyright,i.) WELLINGTON, October 6. 11l the Hous 6 of Representatives yesterday, notice was given of the intention tj-o, introduce the Workers’ Compensation Amendment BUI (H. E> ( Holland). Orders-in-Council Confirmation B'h .{Mr Carr). * Judicial Proceedings (regulation ol reports) BiLI (Mr Fraser). British Nationality and Status or .Aliens fin New Zealand) Bill (Mr Fraser). New Zealand Institute of Clerks of Works Bill (Mr Fraser) was introduced and read a first time. Meat Export Control Amendment BiU {Mr Poison) was read a second time pro forma arid referred to a select committee. • The Leader of the Opposition raised a question of privilege in connection with an addendum by Mr . Macintosh to the National Expenditure Commission’s final report. At his request the Clerk of the House read the .passage, which contained the following -words “It may not be out of place to 'state briefly that evidence adduced and information otherwis e at the disposal of the Commission indicate unmistakeahly that the financial difficulties under which the Domiion is at present labouring are in a large meaaur e attributable to°the people themselves, through their representatives in Parliament, many of whom by way of .placating constituencies and possibly securing a continuity of membership have, year after year, mad e inroads on the Treasury for various objects, in numerous! instances with no prospect of adequate or any return on expenditure’involved. Mr Holland said definite charges had been made against members of Parliament, and it would be a bad day foi Parliament’ and the country when anybody was allowed to make a statement of the kind without producing evidence to justify it. He urged a Committee should be set ~up to deal with the matter and report back to the House, and moved that the statement read to the House constituted a breach of privilege. Sir Charles Statham said the statement constituted a prima facie ease of breach of privilege. IMr Holland’s’ motion was adopted and the Prime Minister undertook to consider the setting up of a committee of privilege at a later date, 'Discussion on. the peport of the National Expenditure Commission occupied the 'House for th e remainder of the day and will be continued thia afternoon. The House rose at 11.30 p.nu