NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1860, 14 September 1906, Page 3

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

A DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN IN DIFFICULTIES.

Special to the Times. WelJiDgloo, last night. The first experiment with one of the proposed new deputy-ohairm9n (Mr Flatman) was not a buoobss, Mr E. MoKoezie (the recently-appointed chairman) having a Bill about noxious weeds in committee, Mr Flatman was called on to take the chair, and he was no sooner in it than he was iD diffiouhies; The Hoaso for a time fairly bristled with points of order. Mr Flatman wore a puzzled look, but at last mustered up courage to give a decision, but the ohairman’s baiters returned to their victim, and carried him further. Mr Wilford was the most persistent, but he received assistance from several others, including Government supporters, For half an hour members, except those on the Ministerial benches, were in a merry mood. At last the Premier intervened. He said this was a serious matter, and they were not going to ploy with it, If bo, they had better adjourn altogether. Mr Flatman’s ruling was not accepted with very good grace. “ Well, sir, I acoept your ruling very reluotantly,” said one Government sup.porter. Mr Flatman conferred a good deal with Mr McKenzie, who was sitting just at his right hand, and this caused Mr Wilford to complain that he could not get the ohairman’s attention. At this stage Mr McLacblan came to Mr Flatman’s assistance. “1 give you my assuranoa that I shalll support the dignity of the ohair,” he said in solemn tone', but the House laughed again. Eventually Mr Baumo showed ht 3 dissatisfaction with the chairman’s ruling by moving to report progress and oall in the Spesker to settle the point. The motion, however, was not pressed to a division, and was lost on the voices. At 11 p.m. a rather thin house settled down So oonsidsr the Bill.