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1910. NEW ZEALAND

COMMITTEE ON ALLEGATIONS MADE BY THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR STRATFORD (REPORT OF THE); TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, MINUTES OF EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX. (Mb. HANAN Chairman.)

Beports brought up 26th November, 1910, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE.

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 29th Day or September, 1910. Ordered, " That the allegations made by the honourable member for Stratford during the debate on the Financial Statement, published on page 461 of the second volume of Hansard for this session, dated 10th August, 1910, concerning the purchase of private estates by the Crown for the purposes of close settlement, as follows—(1) That a member of Parliament acted as agent for the vendor, and received a commission in connection with the purchase of an estate ; (2) that, in connection with the purchase of an estate, two members of Parliament acted in collusion and received a commission ; (3) that a member of Parliament divided a commission with a land agent in connection with the purchase of land by the State ; (4) that a member of Parliament received a huge commission, running into four figures, for acting as agent in connection with the purchase of land by the State —and any other allegations of a similar nature against members of Parliament that may be brought before the Committee be referred to a special Committee for investigation and report; the Committee to consist of Mr. Allen, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Massey, Hon. Mr. Millar, Mr. Myers, Mr. Reed, and the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward; five to be a quorum : the Committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and to examine such witnesses as they deem necessary. The Committee to report within one month. The Press to be admitted to the Committee during the taking of evidence, but not while the Committee is deliberating."—(Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.) Tuesday, the 25th Day of October, 1910. Ordered, " That His Honour the Chief Justice having stated the objection of all the Judges to accepting the proposed commission to inquire into the charges made by the honourable member for Stratford, the Order of the House adopting the recommendation of the Special Committee set up for the purpose of inquiring into such charges be rescinded, and the charges, with the exception of that against the Hon. T K. Macdonald, be referred back for investigation to the same Committee." —(Right Hon. Sir J G. Ward.) Wednesday the 9th Day op November, 1910. Ordered, " That the time originally fixed by a resolution of this House dated the 29th day of September, 1910, in which the Special Committee set up to investigate allegations made by the member for Stratford and referred to i.n the said resolution is to report to the House thereon, be extended—that is to say from the 29th day of October, 1910, to the 19th day of November, 1910; arid that, all the proceedings of the Chairman and members of the said Committee since the said 29th day of October to the date of the passing of this resolution be and are hereby validated."—(Mr. Hanan.) Friday, the 18th Day of November, 1910. Ordered, " That a week's extension of time—that is to say from the 19th November to the 26th November, 1910 —be granted to the special Committee set up to consider the allegations made by the member for Stratford, in which to report to the House."—(Mr. Hanan.) i-I. 14,