The Country's Business.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 5 December 1918, Page 3

The Country's Business.

The following paragraphs from the I reports of Parliamentary correspondents, give some idea of the manner in whichi affairs of State are beiing dealt with by Parliament: Though some members of Parliament have a disposition to talk at length this session, on comparatively unimportant matters, they do not appear to be eager to Jose sleep about the big things. Thev strain at tlhte political gnat, but Fwallow the legislative camel. For example the Electric Power Bill went through Committee almost as fast as the dhairman could utter the names and numbers of the clause*. There was a sonnd of flntteritic' paper a« members hastily turned the leaves <rf tihe 'Bill to ikeep up -with the galloping Mr Malcolm. In spite of all the predictions of a lively session the present session ha,* been a most harmonious one hitherto. Yel terday further harmony was instilled into -membens by the aippearance of a piano in the members' lobby. iL'ke children with a new toy members lingered round the piano all <Jay. Popular airs strummedi % some more pjifted politician were taken tin by lusty voices. Even when the House was about to resume in the evening the piano could be heard isroincr and the sound of a chorus floated into the chamber to waiting members. The piano should help in no small way in speeding on the hurried session to a close. All previous records were broken in Parliament on Friday, ■when the House dealt with the stimate* in one day's sitting of just over 13} hours. Never before "in the history of the New Zealand* Parliament has money been voted so rapidly, ton and a half millions sterling, leaving out the permanent appropriations, beiiio- dealt with. When the House rose at 2.37 a.m. the memh>iv> present had thinned down to between 20 and 30.