SYDNEY SCENES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1266, 23 October 1911, Page 5

SYDNEY SCENES.

$ PARLIAMENT IN THE DOLDRUMS. AT RANDWICK. (Contributed.) "Any scrap 011 to-night?" asked a Sydney pressman of a confrere, and I passed with tho former into the Sydney "beargarden," as the House of Parliament is flippantly called. "No, nothing doing!" was tho answer. "Come along—we'll have a look; you never know what will happen hero!" So we entered tho unpretentious building, walked through uu unpretentious hallway, climbed a llight of dingy, narrow stairs, pushed open a swing door, and looked down into the boar-pit. Members of the New Zealand Houso talk a good deal now and again about their present temporary quarters. They would mention them less if they knew what tho Sydney House was like. It is about half tho size of tho old Chamber in Wellington—a narrow, lofty apartment, with leather upholstered forms ranged in horseshoe shape, and divided only at either side by (he lobby deors, and straight ahead l'rom (lie Speaker by an aisle, at tho top of which is seated tho Si rgeant-at-Arms, a busy gentleman of late. There arc no divided seats, 110 desks, no writing fauiUlics at all in ihe House. A mem her, in speaking, has (o hold all the. papers he wishes to refer to in his haiuU, and not infrequently he drops seme of them on the lloor in searching for data, whereupon others waiting a chance to get in rise to witch tho Speaker's eye. Mr. Speaker is, however, aware of the trick, and allows tho speaker to pick up his papers and resume. When the writer arrived at about !U5 p.m., Mr. Parkes (son of (he late Sir Ileury Parkes) was droning on about tho advantage ol' day labour over the contract system for public works. There wero about fourteen members in tho House, and from tho press gallery only eight, could be seen. "Mr. Speaker—beg—call—attentionstale—House!" was the interjection which presently interrupted Mr. Parkcs'a speech. "Sergoant-at-Arms—ring tho bell!" said Mr. Griffiths, ono of tho chairmen of committees. The bell was rung, and about half a dozen members drifted in. "Quorum present!" was reported, and immediately the half-dozen non-interest-ed drifted out again. Two minutes later the samo performance was repeated, and again and again. It was all very dull and tedious, but the pressmen were not complaining—they simply did nothing and enjoyed tho avocation. By tho way, it is quite a common thing in tho New South Wales Parliament for spectators | in tho gallery to interject. Labour in tho Ascendant. Labour is in tho ascendant in Sydney —it rules pro torn. Jn Parliament it plays tho gamo soundly, and will be difficult to displace. Tho writer saw the Eight Hours Procession hero oil Monday last, and it bore evidence of the earnestness and strength of labour in this great city. The procession took an hour and a half to pass a given point ill Park Street, and not only did it carry tableaux, special displays, and banners by the score, but, behind each flag or device representing a trade, there marched hundreds of employees. Tho full length of the procession was flecked with banners. Tho show was marked by unions of which people in Nov Zealand have small ken. For instance, tho first prize for a display was secured by tho Theatrical Workers Union, who presented a tableau of Mawsou's Expedition to tho Antarctic—a huge hummock of ice surmounted by a huge seal, and lie-furred men in beards, trimmed with beads of perspiration (it was very hot!) struck theatrical poses on the ice-blue canvas, amidst a group of frisky white boars. They also represented two complete "Poverty and No Unity." The procession which was viewed by some 200,000 people. Randwick and its Ways. Randwick at rae.o timo is a nondescri.nl sight. There wero 50,000 present on Saturday (October 7), including a largo sprinkling of Now Zealanders. The equine competitors also included a number from New Zealand—Lady Medallist, Los Angeles, Piorene, Loch Fyne, ViceAdmiral, and' Genius. It is bad to prow sentimental ai races, but what loyal New Zealander can resist investing for tho "sako of Homo and beauty." Tho result was disastrous on Saturday, for though (ho Maorilaud horses were high in favour, and short priced in tho roaring ring, not one got home, and every New Zealander whom the writer niei had a bad day. . Incidentally, no favourites won, and "tho bookmakers had a record winning day. I confess l.'do not liko the bookmaker system of betting as against (he quiet old "tote." It introduces an air of vulgarity which offends susceptible pooplo liko myself. Tho faculty is not ljppt in ono pliico either. Just before tho race they shoulder their way in amongst (he crowd in front of the grandstand, and howl tho odds there until tho lace start 1 ', when they scream the belting in tho running. " This permit* of no respite— (lie race meetings are for the bookmakers and punters, and no ono witVa quiet love for sport who is not a betting man is catered for. They have an idea hero of booking your seals for luncheon, which is distinctly a good one. If yon do not book, prepare for a fast or a fight. Since writing the foregoing Lady Medallist has won tho Craven Plate, but few New Zealanders gave her a chance.