POLITICAL MOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL MOTES

A PARLIAMENTARY PICNIC A HAMPER OF BILLS AND A GAME OF STONEWALL. Tho House of Representatives Lad a regular picnic yesterday, A hamper full of private members’ bills was opened up in the House, and members sampled the contents and expi essed t-Loir approval or disapproval of the same. Not, however, that tho wares exposed wore non", for they had been partaken of before. However, members appeared to relish the change from the daily diet of Government dishes. The picnic was a happy one, and In- the end of the afternoon members had signified their unanimous approval of one of tho bills piaccd before them. When evening came, however, they tired of bills, possibly boOA/Uss th-ey saw an uninviting dish Inbelied “Daylight Saving” in the next course, and so they left tLo hamper of bills spread out in the House, and indulged in a game of stonewall. Air T. K. Sidoy, who had rehashed the particular dish in question, observed this, not without pangs of regret. Tho game of stonewall proceeded merrily through the evening, and members enjoyed themselves thoroughly—except, of course, poor Mr Sidey. SHIFTS, PLATOONS, AND ROSES. “The girls should go to work in shifts,” add Mr A. E. Glover, in the House yesterday in speaking on a measure before the House affecting girls employed in marble bars and other refreshment rooms. This remark appeared to ticicle members. “Wky not com© in platoons?” said Mr Wilford, amidst laughter. “Whatever you like,” said the obliging Air Glover, “a rose by any name smells just as sweet.” The explosion of laughter that fallowed the declaration out-rivalled all other outbursts of mirth. MR MANDER AND THE MONKEY. During the stonewall in the House last night, the dullness of debate was relieved by several sallies of wit. Mr T. hi. Wilford, who has some reputation as a raconteur, told a story about a soldier who bought a monkey at one of the ports.of call on the way Home. Before retiring one night he left the monkey perched on an electric fan in his cabin, but disaster happened during the night. The soldier switched on the electric fan instead of tho electric light, and the poor monkey was switched out of the porthole. Instead of being impressed by the horrible fate of the monkey the member for Marsdeu immediately rose to a point of order. The monkey, he said, bad nothing to do with the bill under discitssion. “1 give "ay word of honour,” replied Mr Wilford with evident sincerity, “that I never meant any reflection on the hon. member.” (Great laughter.) AUTOCRATIC MEMBERS. “How many times have members voted on bills in which the people have never been consulted?” cried Air R. A. Wright in the House last night as an argument for a. bill he was in charge of. “Yes,” promptly interjected Air Wilford, “the Six o’clock Bill.” (Laughter.) HARD GOING. When the debate on the Hutt Road Amendment Bill bad gone on for three hours in the House yesterday, the Chairman of Committees, Mr A. 8. Malcolm, decided to rule out of order certain aspects of tho question under discussion as the emphasising of such would be tedious repetition. In their desire to stonewall Air Sidey’s Daylight Saving Bill, which was to follow, members made a bravo effort to continue the debate. The broad highway, hedged as it was with restrictions, was rather difficult travelling. Air Malcolm had to bo on his feet every minute with an admonition to members who wore not in order. The debate straggled on in this jerky fashion till a late hour.