During the discussions on the Electoral Amendment No. 2 Bill, on July the 28th, I made a certain statement in reference to the Official Reports, in which I suggested that certain words uttered by Ministers may be deleted from the Official Report before it is issued. I further made the statement, based upon memory, "that a speech made by a Minister was altered before it was circulated to Deputies. I believe it was the result of a correction made by the Minister." These statements were made following my memory of a certain incident that took place in 1925. There was a discussion in the House, and a Deputy made a request to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in respect to a certain matter. The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs uttered certain words which were heard by Deputies and reported in the daily papers next morning.
These words did not appear in the Official Report, and my statement was based upon my memory of that incident. But I have been assured, and I accept the assurance unreservedly, that as a matter of fact the Official Reporters did not treat these words of the Minister as words directed to the House, but as a sotto voce interjection. Such interjections are not uncommon, and according to the practice and instruction given to you, sir, to the Official Reporters, such utterances are not reported by them and do not appear in the script. Consequently it is out of the question to say that the Minister interfered, or made any suggestion, or gave any direction, that these words should be taken out of the Official Report.
I therefore quite unreservedly withdraw the suggestion that the Minister in question interfered in any way with the Official Report, or that the Official Reporters, by direction or suggestion from any Minister or Deputy, made any alteration in the Report.