CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10075, 24 August 1910, Page 5

CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES.

MR COLVIN ELECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ¥« ELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Hepresentativea this afternoon, "Sir Joseph Ward , moved that Mr Calvin be appointed Chairman of Committees. Mr Colvin had been for eleven years a member of Parliament, and had occupied several positions on local bodies on fthe West Coast. He had also served on every public body in the Buller district suectssfully. He was therefore well qualified for the position of Chairman of Committees. Sir William Steward expressed surprise that he had not been stiec+ed by the Government f oft he position, steing that he Wis tie oldest member of tbe Party, and formerly had been Chairman of Committees. Mr Massev moved to substitute Mr Fraser'B name for that of Mr Colvin. no objection to Mr C lvin, but ha could not see why the question should be made a Party one. The... Opposition was more concerned in the appointment of Chairman than the Governme.it Party, as one of his chief duties was to protect the minority. Mr T. E. Taylor suggested that the time wae ripi for a change in Parliamentary procedure. He desired to see the power of ' nominatr'i, used by the Executive so frequently for party purposes, taken from it. Sir Joseph Ward said the Opposition had been exercising its in- : geuuity in endeavouring to bring about a split in the Government ranks in connection with the matttr. Sir WiiH d m Steward had to recognise that the circumstances were a determining factor in the solution of a difficult question. Mr .Hemes said a few more blunders li(\e the present one would accredit Sir Joseph Ward in the eyeß of the House and the country. The motion was carried by 45 to 27. • Mr Colvin returned thanks for his election, and said he would ba tin partial, firm and courteous when in the chair.