NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 897, 17 August 1910, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

"BRINGING PARLIAMENT INTO DISREPUTE."

Once again Parliament was not very good-mannered last night. Interjections became very frequent, sometimes two .or. more members contending at the one time. Noisy interruptions whilnt Mr. EH was speaking brought the Speaker to his feet in protest.. "These repeated interjections,", he said, "are not only interfering with business, but are bringing Par-, liament into disrepute.". STILL NO CHAIRMAN. ; Nothing further can be gleaned as to how the Government intend to get out of the awkward; position which has* arisen in connection with the vacant position of Chairman of Committees. As regards the suggestion that tho Government will rely upon Mr. Laurenson to prevent Mr. ■ Eraser from obtaining the position this is generally thought unlikely. In the first place it is pointed out that health reasons alone will debar him from aspiring to the position. Even -f ho is. nominated it,is felt that he must be'defeatcd owing to his former connection with tho New Liberal party. "The House might go on indefinitely, without a Chairman of Committees as far as that goes," said Mr. Massey last'evening when interrogated about the delay in appointing a successor to Mr. Wilforcl, ."but,", he added, "it is a very improper, thing to do." In the event of. the Speaker .foiling a' victim to the prevailing : influenza epidemic and there being no Chairman'of .Committees, the House' would be >n a decidedly awkward position. ■ . ■LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council did not sit yesterday; but members will reassemble .this afternoon. , THE WEEK'S WORK. Eeferring to the present position of affairs,. Mr. Massey pointed out to n. Dominion roporter last night Ihut to-day, , and to-morrow are both practically pn-. vate members' days, and in any cane, according to tho Standing Orders, the House could not go into Committee of Supply, except on Friday, .without running tho risk of an amendment buing moved to the motion. Consequently, he was of opinion that tho Estimates would be gone on with on Friday,'and for the future we might expect the Estimates to be considered every Friday.