SESSIONAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 236, 29 June 1908, Page 8

SESSIONAL NOTES.

PREPARING FOR BUSINESS. The Leader of the Opposition lias arrived for the session ill oxcellent fighting trim. " I liavo lost nearly two stones in weight since last session," he remarked on Saturday. "I was just a bit heavy then." Just as well, perhaps, for on sampling the comfort of tho elbow-rest- chairs, in which members of the Houso of Representatives are to sit, ho was only ablo to squeeze himself in! One can fancy, by the way, that members will not display themsolves so gracefully as in the comfortable lounges of the old Chamber, but will sit .with elbows and knees cooped up, notes in hand, and papers on kneo.

Tlis Ladies' Gallery. "Bettor have 110 ladies' gallery at all than a small one," remarked a member of tho Opposition on Saturday evening, noted for his popularity with tho ladies. "How am I going to make them understand there isn't room?" Renswlng Acquaintances. Parliament Houso was a place of koreros and hand-shakes yesterday, members and Parliamentary officials dropping in during the day, and renewing acquaintances. Tho perpetual'smile was on the face as the newcomers wandered here and there over the rooms, or sot off on a weird tour along the "tuppenny tube," or, as it seems to be more popularly known, the " pons asiiiorum." Tho Prime Minister and his Ministers were very little in evidence, either on Saturday or yesterday, preparatory duties .taking up almost the whole of their time. The Primo Minister states ho is in excellent health. Marbla Tablet. The marble tablet to the memory of tho late Hon. E. J. Seddon,' which was- forwarded to tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph AVard) by : the railway ■workshop hands at Newport, Victoria, Was on Saturday crected in a couspicuous placo in the Parliamentary Library. : The Governor. ' His Excellency the Governor spent an hour or bo yesterday afternoon in company with his aide-de-camps looking over the arrangements for Parliament.- :. ..

Mr. R. H. Rhodes. Mr. R. H. Rhodes cheerfully denies any suggestion that lie is not going to seek reelection to Parliament at the coining election. Ho says ho has been trying for'the last three months to give quite tho other impression. His health is now first-class, and lie will tako his seat in the House of Representatives on Monday, and oxpects to. see the session' through. .

Members Arriving. • Members ,of Parliament who arrived on Saturday and yesterday were Messrs. G. Laurenson, C. A. C. .Hardy, W. F. Massoy (Leader of tho Opposition), J. F. Arnold, F. R. Flatman, J. A. Macpherson, D. Buddo, G. Witty, T; Parata, T. H. Davey, T. K. Sidey, F. W. Lang, J. Stevens, F. Y. Lethbridge, H. J. H. Okey, J. M'Lachlan, and H. G. Ell, Hons. W. Beehan, J. T. Paul, J. Marshall, J. Holmes, C. Louisson, J. B. Callan, Sir Maurice O'Rorke, Colonel Feldwick. ( Tho Walrau Seat. Mr. T. J. Storey (says the Marlborough "Express"), well-known throughout Marlborough as the former proprietor of tho Fedoral Hotel, Picton, has been waited upon by a deputation, which asked him to contest the Wairau seat at' tho forthcoming General Election. Mr. Storey did not give a definite answer, but stated that he would consider tho proposition put before him and reply in a few days. - - ■ Solwyn., The member for Selwyn is looking forward to an arduous election campaign after the rising of Parliament. Large portions of the Ashburton and Courtenay electorates have been added to his territory, and'he reckons that there are 42 places 'where he will have to deliver addresses.. He does not know who is coming out against him. So far, he'has not heard that the people .are dissatisfied with his care of their interests.

1 , Lyttelton. Mr. G. Laurenson hopes, to represent Lyttelton again in the next Parliament. No other candidature for the seat has been announced, though the name of Dr. Thacker, of Christchurchj has been mentioned. < Work for tho Messengers. / Parliament's temporary encampment in tho vice-regal residence will make moro work for the messengers. The fetching of books, from the Library will take much more time, and several of tho other journeys that have to bo frequently made will be somewhat longer than under tho old conditions. There will, of course, be compensations in other directions, and only experience will show whether an increase of tho staff wjll be necessary. Accommodation. In the old Parliamentary Buildings, the Speaker of the Houso of Representatives (the Hon. A. R. Guinness), who is required by custom; and the exacting duties of his office, to live on the premises, had. three rooms allotted to him, and when it is remembered that Mrs. Guinness was with him, and that a secretary and.a messenger had to be in daily attendance, such a suite will hardly be called too. ample. However, in Government Houso, by someone's oversight, only quo room has been allotted to hiin and his staff. Mr. Guinness will probably insist on having the largo room adjoining the ono where he has been located." This has been assigned to Ministerial secretaries and typistes. 1 Another .W official who dees not seem to have fared well in the distribution of apartments is the Chairman of Committees of the Lower House. His room is small, dingy, and without a fireplace, and it is 'a long way from tho Chamber, to which Mr, M'Kenzie may be called at any moment when the House is sitting/ It .is understood that Mr. Massey is not very. well pleased with, tho room assigned to 1 him, as ,Leader of tho Opposition. He will probably endeavour to have his' quarters removed to one of the rooms in the Library block.. It. may be some littlo timo before everybody in tho legislation factory settles down in tolcrablo comfort.

The Maco. A very fair imitatioii of the mace, which was presented to tho House of Representatives by Sir Chas. Clifford in 1860, and destroyed in the Parliamentary Buildings fire, has been produced. It was designed by Mr., Campbell, Government Architect, and manu-factured-by a Wellington firm. The"bauble," as some members term it, is only a temporary substitute, and its gold colourings are gilt. The sergearit-at-Arms. A month's leave of absence has been granted Major Shepherd (Sergpant-at-Arms). Major Shepherd is unwell at Auckland. His duties during his absence will be undertaken by Mr. H. D. O'Callagkan, for many years clerk'of the Bill Office. The Premier Satisfied. The Prime Minister, when questioned last evening, expressed himself as, 011 the whole, very well satisfied, with the arrangements. Of course, thcro was limited accommodation,' but t-lio best that was possiblo had been done under the circumstances for tho general comfort and convenience. . The lighting by day and night was better than in the old 'build- • ings, and ho was of opinion that the ventilation would prove vory much bettor than was anticipated. Maori Representation. ' Mr. A. T. Ngata, M.P., held a pre-ses-sional meeting with his Gisborno constituents at' tho Nativo Land Court-house last week. 'The most important liiattcr discusscd was that of tho proposed abolition of direct Maori representation to Parliament by tho merging of the Natives into tho European electoral districts. Mr. Ngata explained the position, and requested that after careful consideration tho Natives should appoint a delegate to attend tho. forthcoming Maori conference at Wellington, to advocate their wishes in' this 'direction.