PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 170, 17 July 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. THE BUDGET DEBATE CONTINUED. The attention of the House this afternoon and evening was occupied in listening to a rather dreary discussion. At one period of the proceedings, interest fell to such an extent that there were only three Ministers and 16 members in the House. TO PREVENT QUACKERY. Mr Hornsby's Quackery Prevention Bill was read a second time this afternoon. The Act aims at making it illegal to advertise or supply any preparation, medicine, or appliance alleged to be for the prevention, alleviation or cure of any human ailment or physical defect that is declared by a Judge of the Supreme Court, on the application of the Chief Health Officer, to be harmful to health, or of a fraudulent nature, or of such a character that it cannot have the effect claimed for it. Any person committing a breach of the provisions of the bill would be liable to a fine of £50. . MISSING. "Somebody has walked off with my notes," complained Mr C. Lewis in the House this afternoon. " All my Parliamentary papers have gone," was the remark of Mr Tanner. "I'd like to know who has taken my coat from the lobbj , ," interrupted Mr Poole; "that's the second coat I've lost inside two years," added the member for Auckland West reflectively. "Evidently someone thinks the member for Auckland West does not change his coat often enough," retaliated the Speaker. Other members also recounted their losses. Mr Baume stated that last session he had prepared over 100 pages of notes on the land question, and some "thief' had taken these from his desk. "A good thing they disappeared," laughingly ; interjected a member. Mr Izard capped the list of complaints by recounting an experience he had last year, when his coat disappeared from the lobby, and was returned to him at the end of the session from a certain lodging house. OPPOSITION EGGS. The member for Geraldine. (Mr. Flatman) can generally be relied upon to cause a good deal of merriment when he gete up to speak. "The other night," said Mr. Flatman, "I asked the Leader of the Opposition a question about his ostrich farm. He told mc not to be impertinent, but I had only intended to ask a pertinent question. I've hi?ard a lot about this ostrich farm and the little picnic parties the Opposition have there. I want to see if I can't get a ticket to one of these tea fight:-.. And then? are other things I want to learn about the farm. I've heard the eggs the ostriches lay are 'auriferous.' (Loud Laughter.) I've also heard that the eggs won't, hatch, and I want to find out if there is any connection between these and the Opposition eggs which have never hatched. (Prolonged laughter.) GREAT BARJRIER ISLAND. In the House this afternoon Mr. Alison asked the Postmaster-General whether, taking into consideration the isolated position of the Great Barrier Island, and the far-reaching advantages which would be gained to the settlers and to shipping by an extension of the cabl? to the island and by an extension of telephone communication to the populous portions of the island, if the Government will undertake both works. JOTTINGS. Mr. Herries proposes to ask the Minister of Lands whether he can see his way to alter the regulations under "The Mining District Land Occupation Act, 1894," so that the survey fees paid may be credited as rent. A question asked in the House this afternoon by Mr. Lawry was whether the Minister for Customs can see his way to abolish the duty now imposed on millet and sorghum seeds, seeing that Tilletj and sorghum form splendid green feed for dairy cows in dry weather? "The man who believes gold to be the only money in the world is like the man who believes that nitrogen is not necessary in the air," said Mr. D. Reid, junr., when discussing upon his pet hobby, bimetallism. Mr. Bollard presented a petition, on behalf of 64 residents of the Waitemata County, asking for a grant of £400 for the completion of the metalling of the Little Muddy Creek and Brooklynn roads.