FROM THE LADIES' GALLERY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 10

FROM THE LADIES' GALLERY.

GLEANINGS FROM PARLIAMENT. Tho galleries were unusually full on Tuesday afternoon, . when Parliament met after its week-end adjournment. As a rule members' wives and visitors to the Ladies' Gallery do not crowd tho House at that timo of day, preferring to enjoy their entertainment in tho evening, but so much has been said and speculated upon in regard to the election of the Chairmanship of Committees that a keener interest was consequently taken in the result, keener tlian might otherwise havo been the case. There had been no lack in tho number of those ready to fill tho position—it was literally an embarrassment of riches •mt of which the Prime Minister had to make his choice of a nominee, and the longer tho delay.tho more difficult the position seemed to become. On that afternoon, however, tho die was cast, and Sir -Joseph "Ward proposed that Mr. Colvin bo appointed to tho long-vacant position. . Somehow or other, if only from a mere. outsider's point of view, one could not help feeling disappointment that Sir William Steward considered it his duty to efface himself as a 'candidate for the sako of

his party. He-stands out distinctly -in the House as a'type of bygone days when members, had a regard for, and took earn to preservo, the dignity, tho courtesies, and the observances of tho House. , Several, times before had lie stood aside in 'order to further the interests of his party. InV speaking about' Mm. iiiattei, ho said , ho understood that it was to be made a party matter, which Sir Joseph'denied. : Procrastination Ended. By standing asido as ho'did the choico lay between Mr. Colyin and Mr. Frasui, an Opposition candidate proposed by Mr. Massey. Several members spoko in regard to tho matter, Mr. Taylor making some severe, remarks about the way in which' the Ministry exercised the power that lay in.their, hands. Tho Liberal party had so degenerated that now its majority was only useful ■ to protect the Executive from. the, results of its folly and blundering.' If the Liberal, party did not support whatever was brought down by the Ministry, it was charged with treason. When the division was taken tho result , was found te bo that Mr. Colyin was elected to the Chairmanship.by 4S votes to 27. probably hail Mr. Colvin been told ot what was to/ happen to him three or four weeks ago, ho would havo expressed extreme amazement. One never knows what glories may be in store for ono somo tiino or other. That the wholo matter had been almost difficult one to deal with, and ouo in which a great amount of irritation and,feeling had 'been called forth, no "one can doubt.- ; : . "Immortal." . : In the evening the second reading ot the Public Debt Extinction' Bill was r.ead, a considerable-amount of interest being displayed in the provisions and proposals contained in it. Though everyone- agrees that it would bu a most admirable thing to do to lay aside a fund towards paying off our very big mountain of debt, they seem to be somowhat dubious about it. Ono cannot reverse one's ways all at once, and go. against tho habits, of long years. An animated argument arose between Mr. Massey and the Prime Minister about a sum which Mr. Massey contended was-a loss upon a ' transaction Sir Joseph mentioned, and which Sir Jo3epli utterly denied Contradictions were vigorous and frequent, and personal explanations seemed to be called . for every live minutes. One would hardly think that an argument could ariso out of tho complimentary uso of the word "immortal," and yet such a strange thing did occur, the Prime Minister .choosing to bo quite aggrieved at a quotation Mr. Allen had used, to the effect that the fact of sinking funds being set aside to pay the debts of a country rendered the credit of that state immortal. After ho was assured that it was used in a complimentary sense, tho quotation itself was doubted, and Mr. Allen finally carried tho book itself to the Prime Minister and showed him tho words in black and white. Anything that ■offers a break from the usual course of things is often made tho very most of by members. ' ' ■■■■■ Unprontablo. Wednesday afternoon was extremely uninteresting and unprofitable. Mr. Ell originated a discussion over a paper relating to a proposal to lift the reservation from a pieco of State forest. So deadly and desultory did tho discussion become that Mr. Hino roso in desperation and declared that it was llio most sickly exhibition of wasted time that he had ever known, and then he made some further remarks about tho relationship that existed between tho subject they were- talking about —wood—and some of thojo who had spoken. It was not a flattering remark, and liq. wan .promptly called to oider. Although Mr. Hino hud' to withdraw it, his .resentment againteb tho futility of tho diEcussiou was too

strong to bo subdued, and ho again offended by the free expression of his feelings. Mr. Hine is a lonucious member. About Education. In tho evening Mr. Sidey moved tlio second reading of tho Education Bill, which provided for tho free and compulsory education of boys between tho ages of. fourteen and eighteen, and for girls between fourteen and sixteen. At present much money was wasted, h<s said, because instruction so often ceased at thoso ages,, and there was so littie provision made for their welfare. Jlr. fowlds, tho Minister for Education, was very much in sympathy with much that was proposed in the Bill, and at the present time ho had considerable amendments iir tho Education Act almost ready, and which would be introduced very shortly. In these amendments ho had gone quite as far in the direction > Mr. Sidey desired as it would bn wise to go at present. Mr. Hnssell. Mm member for Avon, apparently does not -altogether approve of technical schools, saying that a large amount of money is wasted over them. According to him, if-the seventh standard wore made a useful stage, instead of a merely mark-time period while boys and girls waited for situations, much* of the waste would he avoided, and the technical system brought directly to those who could appreciate it. Unkindly Frosts. Thursday was notable as being the last day on which private members can bring down their Hills, aud hereafter only Government measures will bo dealt with for the rest of the session. There is a lengthy list of the unfortunates that have been so'' uncompromisingly dealt with, and no more, for this session at any rate, will we hear anything of Mr. Sidny's Daylight Saving Bill, which would get one up earlier in tho morning than of old! lti is making one good against one's will'. The Musicians Bill is another one lost to fame, and. the Bill to abolish barmuids as Veil. Private members' day is one which is jealously clung to, but somehow, they do not appear to have profited very much by it this session. The railways crtnio tin for a largo amount of consideration on Friday evening, the Australian system being compared with our own, Mr.,Millar.being thp. champion of the latter system. The subject even brought Mr. Hardy, the "silent member," to his feet. It is possible that Mr. Hardy will be losing that title, as he has been plunging joyfully into the fray on quite a number of occasions lately. Mr. Hordinan spoke in defence of the Australian Commis-sioners-of Railways system.