JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 25 NQT CONSIDERED,

The second reading of tile Legislative Council Amendment Bill, was postponed in tiio, Legislative Council today. Sir F. D. Bell told Councillors that Cabinet had not yet-considered the Council’s resolution urging that.the act of 1914, making the Council elective, should not come into operation.. DIVORCE BILL PASSES.

Hon McGregor’s . Divorce and Matrimonial Amendment Bill, restoring the refusal to comply with an order for the restitution of conjugal rights, as a~gro.i,i,u<tifpr .diyprce.and also permitting divorce after parties had been legally separated for three years,- was passed by the Council to-day. The Bill seems likely,to get.through the. House, though a certain amount of opposition is anticipated- i. - ... , n NO QUESTIONS.

. The House, for the first time -this session, had no questions to put to Ministers to-day. The orders of the day were reached within five minutes of the meeting of the Chamber.

- A DREARY DEBATE. An Imprest Supply Bill was then introduced and a dull and discursive debate was continued throughout the afternoon. Canterbury and Otago members had much to say about the requirements of their districts, particularly with reference to railways. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Wilford) stated that the Defence headquarters was overpaid and overstaffed, and that court martinis were not cpnclupted in a satisfuc,tory;fasbiin,,,buf he did not succeed in drawing the Defence. .Minister and the debate continued to be uninteresting.