Parliamentary. Wellington, July 19.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 22, 21 July 1900, Page 3

Parliamentary. Wellington, July 19.

On the motion that the report of the Reporting Debates and Printing Committee be adopted in the case of Mr Grey th« chief " Hansard " reporter. Hon Mr Seddon deeply regretted moving that the report be adopted and the necessity that arose, therefore he hoped the issue would not be clouded ; but it simply meant, shall a Parliamentary officer be controlled by Parliament, or shall Parliament be controlled by the officer ? While the subject of the matter of the authorship of the writings was not in dispute, butths actual defiance of the authority of the committee of the House, evidence taken showed that Mr Grey had joined the " Hansard " staff on the ground that it would not interfere with his journalistic labours. As to the statement that he (Mr Seddon) threatened Mr Grey with dismissal for writing [ to the Dunedin Star, lie gave an I unqualified denial. By resolution of the House the Speaker I was authorised to assume control of the officers of the House, but there being no Speaker at th« time, it wis left to Parliament to deal with, He did not personally interfere with the officers of the House. Mr Grey admits that ho was cognisant of the decision of the committee last year, that members of the " Hansard " staff should refrain from writing political articles, and to continue doing so waean act of contumacy. The committee recommended that no longer Mr Grey can continue to be a member of " Hansard " staff, and it was his unpleasant duty for him (Mr Saddon) to move the adoption of the report. Mr J. Hutcheson wfts pleased to uoto the the moderate tone of tho Premier's speech. He thought Mr Grey quite within his rights in writing as he did. A number of other members spoke on the question, most of them considering that under his agreement Mr Grey h^rl a perfect right to do journalistic work outside his duties on "Hansard." Mr Atkinson moved an amendment — That in the opinion of thiß Houso it is deaireable that the members of tho " Hansard " staff should be prohibited from active participation in New Zealand policits, but seeing the teims of i Jtlr -Grey's appointment expressed the reserve of his right to engage in outside work, this Hous'3 r^(i gards tho publication of articles j in the Ne\r Yoik Times as within his technical rights, and declines to adopt the report of the committee. The amendment was lost by 4i to 12. , Mr Seddon replied and the motion was carried by 47 to 10. The Hou^se rose at 2 ii.in.