IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1221, 1 September 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. ■ GAMING BILL IN COMMITTEE. Yesterday was another day of much ialk and little .work. The talk in tho Council was of Imperial affairs, a.nd was concluded with a sketch by Sir John Findlay of tho Prime Minister's sehemo for an Imperial Parliament of Naval Defonce. Mr. Jenkinson's motion to express appreciation of tho work of Sir Joseph Ward and Sir John Findlay at the Conferenco was carried, nnd tho Council adjourned until next Wednesday. ' Tho House spent some time ia discussing the Parliamentary Library. Half-a-Jozen local Bills were advanced a stage, knd just before tho 5.30 adjournment Mr. Sidoy's New Zealand Mean Timo Bill came forward for committal. Members used it, just, as they had used Mr. Herdman's Civil Service Reform Bill the night before. The reason was that the next Bill on the order paper was one that many of them did not want to voto on— the Gaming Act Amendment Bill. Consequently, (Mr. Sidey's endea.vour to cause New Zealanders to do more of their work and play by daylight was mads tho occaB ion of a flood of talk, while Mr. Jennings sat impatiently awaiting chs opportunity of furthering his project to save ,eomo of the country racing clubs. Mr. Fisher fook an early opportunity of frankly describing tho proceedings as a stonewall, an expression which, of course, he had to withdraw. . The profuse and wandering discussion bad a few .redeeming features. Sir Joseph, Ward expressed- himself strongly in favour of daylight sittings of Parliament, and in this ho had the hearty concurrence of Mr. Masscy. Dr. Te Rangihiroa told, very happily, the Maori legend of the snaring of tho Sun-god. An encouraging, outburst of applause greeted Mr. Isitt when ho rose to make his maiden speech. It was just a short and quiet speech in favour of the Bill. Mr. Bollard described the proceedings as a farce and a waste of time. Ho moved: "That the Chairman leave the chair." This was debated from 10.30 to 11.50, and lost. Progress on the Bill was reported at 12.15 a.m.;, and tho Gaming Amendment Bill was then committed. The committee divided, at 1 a.m., on a motion to report progress, and rejected it by 2D to 28. The result was greeted with applause by a considerable section of tho members. Mr.-Wright then declared his intention, of opposing the Bill by taking every advantage of, the ,forms, of .the House.

After some contention a solution- was reached by passing tho short title of the Bill, and reporting progress. The Houbo rose at 2 o'clock this morning.