POLITICAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 233, 2 October 1925, Page 9

POLITICAL NOTES.

■ ! MB. SPEAKER'S JOKE. MIXING THE TELLERS. | CBj Telegraph.—Parliatnentar? T.epor.ez.) WELLINGTON. Thursday, j j Judging merely by appearance, the ! Hon. C. Statham. in the capacity of [ Speaker of the House of Representatives. must have no sense of humour; but in the final stage of the session he allowed himself latitude, and worked off a good I political joke when he selected as teller. lon a division for the adjournment such J political opposites as Mr. McCombs and Mr. Lysnar for the ayes, and Mr. Isitt and Mr. Witty for the noes. As the noes I tellers are not coming back to Parlia* ment there was further point in placing ! them in line with those who did not want lan adjournment. These turned out to be in a majority of five, hut Mr. Speaker left the chair, and will not resume it in the present Parliament. Public Finance The Public Accounts Committee, in it* final report on the session's work, states that it called t>3 Departmental heads i before it when considering the Estimates. ilt had requested the Government in future to elaborate items of travelling : expenses, and not mention them in a lump sum on the Estimates. All Departmental motor vehicles should carry an i official designation, so as to restrict their i use for private purposes. The committee expressed satisfaction . that the provision of Departmental | balance-sheets is now receiving more i attention.

Retiring Parliamentarians. Four members of the present Parliament have definitely stated that they will not contest the elections. They are Sir R. H. Rhodes (Ellesmere), Hon. W. Guthrie (Orouai. Mr. G. W. Witty (Riccartoni. and Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North 1. "They have given a life's service to their country, and I hope they will enjoy their leisure.'" was a remark of the Prime Minister, which was heartily endorsed from all parts of the House. Sir K. H. Rhodes expressed his appreciation of the kind remarks. It was a long time to look back on the election of 1599. and he could only see the Hon. J. A. Hanan in the House to-day among the members who came in at that time. He had hoped to have stood again for Parliament, but he had been, in the language of the racing course, "vetted and turned out to grass." and he hoped that, like the animals this phrase usually referred to, he -would recover his | health and be able to use it in some i other walk of life than in Parliaj ment. He would regret leaving the ! House, but he would carry away with | him enduring memories of friendship.