IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1227, 8 September 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. THE RACING CLUBS AGAIN. Tho crowded state of the galleries of the Houso during tho last day or two 6eems to show that tho public aro taking an unusual amount of interest in politics. Every seat and every inch of standing room in tho men's gallery was filled during last night's debate on tho Gaming Amendment Bill, while tho ladies' gallery and the accommodation for ladies on the floor of the Houso wero also,fully occupied. ' Tho feature of tho afternoon was a discussion on unrest and dissatisfaction in, tho Public Service. A number of local Bills were dealt with. It was rather curious to find that the Gaming Amendment Bill, which has been, time aftor time, talked out and obstructed, was again before the House, at a quarter past four in the afternoon, "to ,be further considered in Committee." Would certain members carry out the threats they made on a previous occasion, and keep the Houso sitting all night -rather than let tho Bill go through? Something, of the sort might have happened, but the Prime Minister bad a scheme for getting rid of tho difficulty— or, at. any rate, postponing it. Ho undertook that, if progress was reported, tho Racing Commission should bo revived and given an opportunity to reconsider its report. Ho explained that the limitation of the number of permits and racing days, as prescribed by last year's Act, would still hold good, and the commission would only bo able to vary its original report by way of readjustment. Tho commission would be asked to report within a fortnight, and if its report was not satisfactory to tho'House, Mr. Jennings would be given an opportunity of going on with his Bill. Mr. Jennings accepted this proposal, but a good many other members were not so willing., Some of those most interested in tho subject felt uuto that tho commission , would cither decline, the honour of resurrection,. or would refuse to alter its findings. The 'majority, however, fell in with the proposal of the Prime Minister, and progress was .accordingly reported. Mr. Witty then wont ito the table to sqo his Land Agents Bill through Committee. After a discussion, which the House did not take very seriously, pre--press was reported. A Cbristchurch local Bill was read a second time, and tho House adjourned a few minutes after midnight. In the Council the second' reading debate on the Mental Defectives Bill was \nietly continued and again adjourned.