LADY WHO SMILED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 28

LADY WHO SMILED.

GOOD,.LOBBYING WORK. MEMBERS COULDN'T RESIST. "FILCHING A RESERVE." (By Telegraph."—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Highly diverting was the explanation of a Christchurch member, Mr. Howard, who objected to a local bill, when-he explained the reason why he was fighting alone, all his Christchurch colleagues having succumbed to successful lobbying of a unique kind. There was a measure before the House to authorise- utilisation of the old fire brigade reserve and fire, station at Chester Street, Christchurch, by the Ohristchurch. branch of tho Plunket Society. Mr.- Howard strongly objected, because there was a constant tende-nny to filch public reserves.. Even, the Christchurch City Council,' which promoted the bill at the request of-the Plunket Society, did ■ so. ..believing it would never get past Parliament, which was very jealous of interference with public reserves. "But," continued Mr s Howard, "they never reckoned with the] Plunket Society. They have, a delightful and attractive lady secretary, who lobbied members and Ministers, and, to put it in a jocular spirit 'my cake's dough.' (Laughter.) Her lobbying went on, and one by one you could see members, who on principle were against giv- , ing this building, giving way; and, as the lady smiled,.- they dropped away. ' And I am afraid I stand alone.. I may have one half-hearted supporter, the member for Lvctelton."

Mr. McCombs (Lyttelton): There has been- a. compromise. (Laughter.) Mr. Howard: I understand, he has compromised himself, tool Evidently the lady has smiled on him too. (Loud laughter.) But I object to filching ihis reserve. There is a compromise;. they are to have it for 15 years, and I am afraid in 15 years the same smiles .will go around again, and the same thing will happen. If they once get in you will not get them out. The member for Lyttelton capped, the joke by a serious explanation of the compromise over the bill, under : which the use of the reserve by the Plunket Society was limited to io years. He believed, even if the bill were passed, the society would have to reconsider the' position. It was difficult to resist any proposal of the Plunket Society, even if it was the height of folly, because the work of that society made such a strong appeal to members. The Hon. T. M. "WTlford (Minister of Defence).: Do you mean they can get anything they like? Mr. McCombs: Yes, literally; and, because I,took that point of view, I was j willing to agree that the ; bill ehofild pass. Ultimately Mr. Howard, persisting against long odds, divided the House ,on a motion to read the bill the second time, and met defeat by CO votes to four.