PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 506, 13 November 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

After dealing with preliminary matters yesterday afternoon, the House was occupied with the adjourned debate in Committee on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill. A good deal of criticism was directed against the degree of centralisation which the Bill proposes to introduce into the control of the new hoards. The debate was continued through the whole of the evening session, numerous divisions being taken. At 1.30,' when 69 clauses had been disposed of, progress was reported, and the House adjourned till Tuesday.

An amusing incident happened in the House of Representatives last evening. There is a Standing Order which directs that, if any member has occasion to make a statement during a division, he must do so while remaining seated, with his hat on. Mr Glover (Auckland Central) was apparently unaware of this rule when he rose, with head uncovered, to address the Chairman of Committees during a division. When the Chairman ordered that he must sit down and put on his hat, Mr Glover was in great perplexity, and his confusion was increased when his neighbour, Mr Poole, amid tpuch laughter, pressed a hat four sizes too large over his eyes and ears. The Chairman was left to imagine what Mr Glover had intended to say, for the latter was too confused to make his statement.