JOINT COMMITTEE

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 3, 26 August 1931, Page 3

JOINT COMMITTEE

("Post" Special Commissioner).

EVIDENCE FROM HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS BEING TAKEN. KEEN SCRUTINY.

WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Although it is much too early to expect definite results from the interparty conference, it is plain that at the initial sitting yesterday valuable preliminary ground was covered in discussing a modus operandi. The real work was commenced to-day, when evidence was heard from departmental oificers on financial affairs. One of the first subjects discussed at the preliminary sitting was the scope of the inquiry to be made by the committee and the extent to which the considefation of financial and Other matters is to be referred to expert authorities. It was gathered in the course of i Jobbv inauiry that there was a com-

mon understanding in this connection •that Parliament, in agreeing to enlist the advice of experts, was in no way surrendering its function or its responsibiliies and that the setting up of the committee was not regarded by delegates as an admission of the failure of parliamentarians to grapple with the position, but rather as a means of effecting closer inter-party co-operation.

It was agreed. to call evidence from those aualified to tender it as being preferable to delegating authority to outsiders, whose conclusions might or might not be agreed with by the committee.

It is said that members of the committee felt that a committee set up with the authority of the House should shoulder full responsibility for evolving rermedial measures. The problem naturally arises, that if an independent comnrttee of experts was given a free hand to devise means for meeting the future situation, there might be a conflict of party views when the recommendations came to be finaily considered in the House. Compromise. An arrangement whereby the committee will sit during the day and the House in the evening only constitutes a satisfactory compromise, overcoming the objection that an adjourftment of the Houss during the commit-

tee's sittmgs might give rise to a false impression throughout the country as to the state 'of the National Finances. The change in the sitting , hours of the House will not interfere seriously with its ordinary routine as select ^committees will be able to ,sit during the mornings and afternoons, as at present, while the evenings will be available for House sittings without pmbarrassment or ineonvenience to any members through their being required to attend committees. There is an-idea, expressed during the financial debate, that some of the larger revenue estimates are unduly opt;mistic, the Customs being quoted as an instance., Responsible officers can go before a representat?ve committee of the character of the inter-party committee, sitting privately, and show in detail how the estimates are built up. It can also be taken for granted that the expenditure 'side of the estimates will be closely overhauled and that departmental heads will be called on to justify their proposed expenditure and make suggestions for further limitations in view of the 'increasing revenue difficulties which have developed since the estimates were framed. Treasury Evidence. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon: G. W. Forbes, stated at the rising of the committee after to-day's sitting that there had been no important devclopments. Evidence had been heard from the Secretary to the Treasury

(Mr. A. D. Park). Other members of the committee conveyed the impression that^the inquiry is commencing at bedrock with a close examination of the basis of this session's budget and departmental estimates, r-articularly anticipations of revenue. There is to be a succession of departmental witnesses dealing with these phases. Delegates do not anticipate more than painstaking day to day proceedings until the committee reaches the stage of deliberating. Then, it is said, lines of cleavage may develop, but despite suggestions from some quarters that the Labour delegates are on tenterhooks and are liable to break away from the investigation at any moment, more authoritative opinion is that the Labour members are keenly interested in the whole proeess of investigation and will take full advantage of these exceptional opportunities of obtaining information regarding the financial and economic position.