POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 955, 24 October 1910, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

"A JOB LOT." MR HERRIES ON THE MINISTRY. Speaking in facetious vein on Saturday moining, Mr Hemes contrasted the salaiy ot a prominent Austialian Civil Servant with that of a Minister. , - The contrast was in favour ot the Civil Servant, and Mr. 'Hemes accounted for it by remarking that of course Ministers could be picked up ' any day. L Sir Joseph Ward retorted- You have boon hying to be a Minister for ten years. ' "Flo ha\o a job lot just now," com- • mented Mi. Hemes. "We could pick them up cveiy day, but you cannot at wajs get a manager of railways." THE SILENT MEMBER- PROTESTS* ' A charge of obstruction was levelled against the member for Selwyn, Mr. C. A. C. Haidy, on Saturday morning by the Pume Minister. ' "Ihough'l may bo known as 'the silent member,' 'J said Mr.' Hardy, in reply, "I am not going to be known as a dumb dog." Ho added that he would make his protests against rushing important Estimates through if it, kept him in Wellington until Christmas. Ho had a duty to peiform to his constituents; CULTIVATION OF CUM LANDS. Preliminaries in connection with tho conduct of experiments on tho poor gum lands' of the north are, being completed The Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) informed the House on Saturday moining that Mr. Clifton had selected three separate areas, whero it was proposed to experiment in manures, cultivation; and tha choico of seeds. STRAIGHT TALK TO A MINISTER. At 430 on Saturday morning Mr, H J; Grecnslade (member for Waikato) deliveied some straight talk to the Hon T. Mackenzie (Minister for Agriculture). Mi. Grecnslade had put one or two questions ;in reference to the Agricultural Estimates, and he had been followed by several other members. Tho Minister did not reply quickly enough to please Mr. Greenslade. -' "If the Minister thinks he is going to treat us with contempt," he informed the ' Chairman of Committees, "he is making a huge mistake." Mr. Greenslado added that he was prepared to sit there all night, hut he was determined to have - a reply. He',was, not coming to Parliament to put through huge sums of money at 4.30 a.m. without getting the information ho desired. The Minister could think what he liked, but he must treat tho members with lespect. Latef, Mr. Field remarked that he did not think Mr. Greenslade was serious. Mr.- Greenslade, 1 however, was, .and asked that the remark, which he considered most unfair, should bo_ withdrawn. r "> In repljing, Mr. Mackenzie said he had delayed so as to answer all tha questions together. "I accept jour apology,'' said Mr. Greenslade. , THE BECINNIiMC OF,THE END. That the end of the session is within sight is indicated by a statement made by the Ifaimo Minister fin Saturday that on Tuesday he would move that the House sit on Saturdays and Mon- • days for the rest ot the session. This will make the remaining weeks very strenuous. It t is.not .usual for ,the Hbuse.'tb sit;on;Saturdays; -except;ahdut ¥. the' last; Saturday,(arid'there is,'an. imj '•■' ('- pression... '.in some ;■ 'that; '. -der;-jj- .. spite' his'' - statement;'. .the* Prime 'Minis-; j;;; ; : ter '{ will -'content.' himself;,,with ..taking ; : >;.' i ;Mondays'. : for. bus'iness ;r in '■■].the-^mean-. -f..i' : . :time. • : :::">;i,:-^-;- i; ,-::;:/;,.i;.u..:i ■Cc^:i : V. : '.:jv:;' 1 '.';! THE; LEC|S^.AT|yE;COUNpiLi;;'f; v ; L ■': The. Orders"_of the'. Day. for to-rilprro#:-; : ' ; afternoon'^.sitting;of - 'the ; Legislative':;;;._■■"■ J Council -include; the'^^."s'eMnd',:'f&duig:'; ; i)l:; the'Education'Amendment Bill,- the Aid Y\ I to iWater.Po.wer-Works Biil,-;and;:/the;.- ' : s Land Settlement.-.-Finance. Amendment-; •]■" I Bill. The Aniriials' Protection";.Amerid-V-- ;- ment Billand;theßiver.Boards' Amend--- ; ment BiU;are;down for their-,third read-: , :,.- j ing,, the'Storiej Quarries .'Bill' for .com-. ;, [ mittal, the :Liw:, Practitioners'';■;.. j Amendment.Billifor, further': 'cqhsiclera- ■ . tion in! Comriiittee. Ther'.ameiidments-:' '. ; : made, by,the..House of.-Repre'sentatiyea ; ; s in the By-Laws Bill 'are also' set-.dowa;.:' L for consideration:;:,:.: ';' r />^?K- : AND / •.'. : -.-"If. the -business had;been: prbperlyi^.:; . conducted .iri'theilrst instance, ;the.tEs- v , " titnates'.would havebeeri through .'■weeks''-.--' ■ ago,",remarked Mr. : -;Massey. yesterday .'•"' in .' reply ■' to a . query ' as" to; the; Prime ;; : Minister's, suggestion.that- the ;.:'Esti- ; ;■ 1- mates had[ :be'en . sition.; - "As. ;fqr .obstruction;-' ."siid> Mr."'.""'",., : ..Massey, ;:"fof- ; l part, of; Opposition members,.;there naa ;'' [ been nothing of lie sort.''.'We. have ;,;. > posod proposals.of ; .which. -:wo- .did-; not;, \ (approve, but we. have;,'done'.itj:^n.:tfei ! ; : .- t constitutional-way. {--If .the..'; s session dragsVout' to ariyyunusual.lengtE',:.. , witiout very much business .being dbrie'j - - : 1 the Government' will _ themr;;,. i;. selvesi-aiid their "to' blame:':; for - "■ '.--< i what'-.hasvtakeii' place.".-;::. ' : -r ■-/; '■':/-<■■.:"■ , '■:''• "The general: ihipression,'' /.said ;.fa,-;V ■usually well-informed politician: jester?: f-: E day," "is ; that; another fhreey/ or': per- ; , 5 haps four; week's;-;will;see .the'endjof the ■.-■; i (session.",'' -V} ?•-';.\4;-;;-;- -('-r - : i-'-' -■;■!••>- / ;.--,