FROM THE LADIES' GALLERY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 9

FROM THE LADIES' GALLERY.

"JENNY WREN" IN PARLIAMENT. ! In spito of all the protests that mo made at the end of every session against the overwhelming rush of work- that has to bo grappled with, Parliament still pursues its antiquated and reprehensible m'othod of discussing every jmaginablo Subject under the sun during tho Address-in-Roply debate/ from defence or land , proposals down to lengthy dissertations upon the 'sin of parochialism. A member has only to mention tho word "parochial" in connection with either tho north or the south when lmlf a dozen and deeply-maligned legislators will rise/ one after the other, to heatedly defend themselves against such a charge. Ono could hardly have expected such sensitiveness, somehow or another, about these matters.

Time after time a never-ending procession of Government members rose and held forth drearily, emptily, and for a time that seemed to stretch into infinity, upon nearly every word contained in the Address. If by any chaiico oiie did rouse oneself from the apathy of despair into which one invariably sunk, few gleams of new, convincing thought shone through the darkness. Over and over again these same views and arguments- been expressed, and will bo again to tho end of the session. There is nothing new under tho sun.

A Strange Silence. Silence brooded heavily over tho Opposition benches, and various' rumours as to the cause floated around. Was it because the Government, ignoring the Customary Parliamentary procedure in other lands,, handed over the task of replying to Mr. Massey's speech\in.the debat-o upon tho Address-in-Reply to the Hon. Mr. Ngata, the youngest Minister in the House?

-Another rumour was to the , effect that there Were no Bills ready, arid that