STATE COAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 21 October 1907, Page 2

STATE COAL.

1 TROUBLE IN TILE HOUSE. Per Press Association. , Wellington, Friday. The A to L Petitions Committee m 2 reporting on the petition of the VVanga- " inii coal dealers against the °P el ' 1 of the State Coal Depot, stated that 3 Mr W. Crothcis, agent for the State '* Coal Department at Christchurch, hail ' refused to answer a question asked with " reference to the Wanganui petition, ° stating that he did so at the direction : of the general manager, Mr W. Gasquoine. Xlio Committee therefore usk ed the House for guidance. , The Premier asked how this petition had come to the wrong committee. It ,i should have gone to the Mines Committee, instead of which it came to a committee of which the Minister of Mineß j was not a member. An attempt had been made to get information from a . subordinate official. 3 The Premier, continuing, said the ■j Committee did not in the case of pri* . vate firms go to a junior clerk for ini formation, and in the case of the State, f the Committee should not have gone to a subordinate official, but to the lliniser in charge, who was alone responsible for tlic administration of the De- ' p irlment. He moved, 'That in the opinion of this House the committee, in endeavoring to obtain information ? from a public servant on matters and ' records under the control, of the responl ' sible Minister, lias not followed the flr--0 dinary practice, and that they be re- [ quested to do so." Mr Massey contended that the Prcniier had endeavored to confuse the point at issue, , , Sj i] y c The Hon. J. McGowan explained that - he had gone to the committee and ' hearj, certain questions asked, There i' 'was nothing objectionable asked, and he - did not remain long. On another ocs casion he was present, and he (Mr Mcf Cowan) had interjected that it was a - question which should only have been 1 asked of the Minister, and had added i that, if the committee desired the in--1 formation, it could obtain it on apply- ; ing to the Minister. 1 Mr Gray stated that the committee > had endeavored to obtain information , from the witness Crothers. One question t was in regard to the direct charge from i the dealers at Christchurch that the . State was losing from 3s lOd to 3s lid on every ton of coal sold ill Christ- , church. When tl}c witness was asked , to state the price of coal landed in Christchurch he declined to do so stating that he was acting under instructions from Mr Gasquoine. ...Mr Hornsby said it was apparent that this was an attempt on the part of private dealers to ''blow up" State coal, just as the cry of "unfair competition had been brought against the State Fire Insurance Department. The State Coal Department had the dircot efl'eot of lessening the price of coal to consumers, and that was the origin of the trouble; Jiut the lessening of the price of coal was the object of the State Coal Department. Mr Fisher Contended that the effect of Mr Homsby's remarks was that, because coal had been lessened in price, ?Ir C questions asked. J ! e K razi e was surprised at the attitude of the Premier and his failure to uphold the dignity of Parliament. Mr Symes, who is acting as chairman Ot the committee? in the absence of Mr Davcy, said the question was whether the committee had power to summon a witness to give evidence, and whether the witness had power to refuse evidence and whether the House would " uphold the committee or not. If the committee was not upheld he would relfuso to sit upon a committee as lons as Jne was a member. The Hon. J. A'. Millar said the petition was from coal-dealers in competition witln the State Department, who alleged that the State incurred a loss on the Department. This was not SO, as the report showed that the State had had made a net profit of 'sß4oo, and this, was audited by the Auditor-Gen-eral.

j The House divided on the Premier's (amendment. The, amendment was carJned by 34 to 23.