"MANY A SLIP"

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 85, 8 October 1915, Page 2

"MANY A SLIP"

MR. OKEY'S BILL. | A happy man was Mr H. J. Okey (member for Taranaki) yesterday afternoon, when he found that a mistake had been made in the voting, and that there was still a chance for the Ingkwood Endowment Disposal Bill, which was under his charge. Objection had been taken by Mr. H. G. Ell and others to certain provisions in the; Bill, and the division went against the Bill by one vote. ' A subsequent examination of the voting, however, disclosed that the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, who had been present in the Chamber, had not had his vote recorded. When the House met after the luncheon adjournment it was reported that Mr. Mac Donald had intended to vote for the Bill, and this made the division equal. The Speaker called upon the Chairman of Committees to give his casting vote, and Mr. Malcolm recorded his vote for the Bill. Mr. Okey was applauded. The Bill was forthwith taken in Committee. There were five minutes to go before the dinner adjournment, and Committee stages were rapidly proceeded with. Mr. Okey announced that a compromise had been made with Mr. EH, who had objected to certain clauses, and the contentious clauses had been pruned down. Mr. T. M. Wilford, however, soon di6closid the fact that he intended to block the measure, though ingenuously protesting the -contrary. He declared that Mr. Ell had been "got round" by Mn. Okey. However, he would move to report progress and abide by the result of the vote. ' A vote was taken and went against reporting progress by 36 to 21. But Mr: Ell was drawn by; the member for Hutt, and while the hands of the clock crept slowly round, the debate proceeded. An extension of time was given, but it was evident that the " opposite benches" were determined to block the Bill. Finally 6 o'clock arrived, and the Speaker declared that it was the hour of adjournment, and the House accordin^y rose. The cup once more had again been dashed from the lips of Mr. Okey, and, though a large majority favoured the Bill, an hour of Parliament had been wasted.