SUMMER TIME BILL.

Shannon News, 3 September 1926, Page 3

SUMMER TIME BILL.

LOST BY MAORI MEMBER’S MISTAKE.

• So the Summer Time Bill has been buried. But, like the fabulous Phoenix, it will rise again, says the Parliamentary correspondent of the Eltham Argus .(the editor <of which is Sir Walter Carncross, Speaker of the Legislative Council. There is not the slightest doubt, it seems to me, but that the Bill will reach the Statute Book this Parliament. It was only an accident that prevented it from passing the other night. There was really a majority of one in its favour but there was an unfortunate misunderstanding concerning pairs. Sir James Carroll, who is in favour of the Bill, had paired with the Hon. Mr Rikihana, Who is opposed to it, consequently the latter should have stayed outside the chamber, while the voting was in progress. But when tire bell rang, Mr Rikihana, to the aonsternation of supporters of the Bill entered the chamber. He was quickly approached and reminded of his pair, and told that he should remain outside. Someone else suggested that he should stay in. While this little discussion was proceeding the sands of the two-minute glass had run out, and the Speaker called out “lock the doors.’’ The order was obeyed, and Mr Rikihana was locked' in instead of outside, and the division was proceeded with. It is a well understood custom in Parliament that when an accident, of this kind happens, and a paired man is locked in, it becomes his duty to vote as the man with whom he is paired would have voted. Following this unwritten law, Mr Rikihana should/have voted for the Bill. Unfortunately he did not uhderstand the ethics of the situation, voted against the Bill, and thus it was defeated. No one imputes any dishonour to Mr Rikihana, who is a thoroughly honourable gentleman, but some of the ways of the Pakeha are new to liim, and he made a mistake. Supporters of the Bill think the mistake was an unfortunate one; opponents of the measure think it was a fortunate one. THE CASTING VOTE.

Divisions in the Legislative Council are not conducted in the same manner /as in the House of Representatives. In the latter House when a division is called for, members leave their seats and go into separate lob\ bies on the Tight and left of the Speaker’s chair. As they return to the chamber from the lobbies the teller check :the number on the division lists, hand them into the Speaker and he announces the msult: In the Council members do not leave their seats, The clerk calls out their names and they answer “aye” or “no,” as the case may be. When the division was taken on Wednesday, the galleries were filled, and it was evident that very great interest was being taken in the proceedings. The doors were, locked and the clerk proceeded to call for the ayes and noes. Voting in this manner enables everyone to check the results, whilst the vote is proceeding. Sometimes the ayes were ahead and sometimes the noes. Evidently it was to be a “neck and neck” race. As the last name was called everyone knew the result was a tie. A slight laugh went round-the chamber when it was recognised the .casting vote rested with the Speaker. Slowly he rose from his chair and said: “The ayes are 16; the noes are 16. I am sorry that the Council has been unable to decid e the question, and that it has devolved upon me to decide it. Honourable gentlemen will recognise that I have practically no option but to vote in the constitutional manner, which is to leave things as they arc; therefore I record my vote with the noes. Bill not read a third time;. unlock the doors.”