I think it will be a convenience if we distribute, in the first instance, the papers in connection with this election for the Standing Committee for the ensuing year. It will take some time to take them up and verify the results in view of the fact that it is by proportional representation. The papers will be distributed now, and I wish to explain very briefly the procedure to Senators, because it is not exactly simple. The object is to select a Committee of eight, known as a Committee of Selection. The duty of that Committee will be, when they are appointed, to make recommendations as to the Senators they think most desirable to fill the vacancies on other Committees. We have several important Committees that are re-elected each year, and the duty of the Selection Committee will be to recommend suitable Senators for those other Committees.
The list will be handed to you now and it contains the names of the sixty Senators. Each Senator is at liberty to vote for any number from one to sixty. I would recommend you not to extend your vote to the sixty. You may do it, but possibly you will be satisfied when you have reached number eight. However that may be, you are entitled to vote in favour of the entire sixty or if you wish you can confine it to one. If you exceed one nomination you have to number your succescessive Senators consecutively, that is to say, you give your first preference to Senator A, then if you want to give your second preference to Senator B you number him two; your next choice is three, and so on in that way. Any paper not so handed in numbered in that way is to be rejected. You are not to vote for the Chairman in this connection. He is not disqualified, but I do not think he should be on the Committee. I am not a candidate for it, nor is it necessary to vote for the Vice-Chairman. He is an ex-officio member. Senator Bennett is an ex-officio member, and therefore you do not require to vote for him. You are not to sign the paper or put any mark on it that would identify it, because it is voting by ballot. Therefore, you are not by any way to disclose the identity of the persons who fill the paper, either by signing it or by any other way.
May I make one other suggestion, not by way of dictating or limiting Senators' choice, but the principal work will occupy their time for the next month or two. That is the real function to be discharged during the next couple of months. Therefore, I say, in making your choice of Senators you should, as far as possible, see that you are supporting candidates who are likely to attend. The papers will now be distributed. They will be collected in a quarter of an hour, and if by any chance a Senator gets into trouble with his paper so as to require a second one he has only to apply to me and he will be furnished with a second one.