POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1922, Page 1

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

“FARMER AND LAWYER,” An amusing interchange took place in the course of the debate on the Meat Control iJiil. “Hon members should remember,” said Mr R, McCalluni (lVairati), “that the lion member for Gisborne (Mr W. D. Lysnarl is a lawyer as well as a farmer.” The Prime Minister: “And yon are a farmer as well as a lawyer.” (Laughter.)

SOLDIER SETTLERS,

Mr AV D. McLedd (iVairarapn) asked tlie Minister for Lands (the Hon D. 11. Guthrie) whether he would have .inquiries made in regard to the difficulties which had arisen at the Mara-"a-tt-mnu and Pihautea soldier-settle-ments through flooding arid erosion. Land worth £4O an acre .was being swept away by the river, lie stated, several settlers being affected, and it was beyond tbe finance of any one settler to cope with the trouble. Tlie Minister replied that lie was now obtaining a report as to the trouble on the first estate. It'had been known that the Piliautea lands Were subject fo floddh, and arrangements had been riiirile for carrying away tlie flood waters. It would be a difficult matter to deal with the erosion owing to the character of the soil, but he would have the riiatter investigated.

» WELLINGTON ZOO. -Hr It. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), iii the House moved tlie second 1 reading oi the AYeljington City . Em- : powering Bill, tlie object of which is to enable the City Ooimcil to charge for admission to the Newtown Zoo oil Sundays. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) and other meriiWs opposed the Bill. Oii a division, the second reading was carried bv 47 votes to 14.

Li committee, Mr Fraser, who challenged a division oii every clause, moved all nmeiidriient that the bill should not come into operation unless approved by the ratepayers at a.special poll. The amendment was defeated, and the bill was reported from committee, read a third- time, and passed.

the Meat pool. The Agricultural Committee of the Legislative Council reported that it bad taken evidence from freezing companies arid meat export companies on tlie petition oO C. A. De. Latent- and others (protesting against the Meat Pool Bill), and as the question involved was one of piiblic policy it had no recommeiulatiori to riiake. . A LABOUR GOVERNMENT. Tlie.Ron 4. Barr remarked in the Legislative Council that it seemed that it was not right for any Government to amend tlie arbitration law unless it was a Labour Government. “And if you wait for that it will never lie amended.” he added, “.unless a more reasonable and more loyal body of men come forward to represent Labour. If that happened 1 believe you would see a Labour Government in this country, lint they would have to lie very much ahead in loyalty and other qualities of the. present representatives in this countrv.”

“MORE FOOL SOLOMON.” Mr Earnslmw (in tbe l.ogislath > Council): Is be a Solomon with bis 40 wives? Another councillor: 400. Mr Earnshaw 4:00? Then more fool Solomon. THE WORKERS. Tiii> following opinion of tlie workers was volunteered by tbe Hon W. Farnslmw in tlie Legislative Council during tlie discussion on the Arbitration Bill: “They are easily led. Individually they are very shrewd. Collectively they are born asses.”