POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES

POINTS FROM PARLIA-

MENT

"WASHING UP"

The course of the "Washing-up" Bill went swiftly in committee of the House of Representatives this morning, till it struck a stone in section 11 (proposing to lease part of Mount Eden Gaol Reserve—a quarrying scheme, apparently). Here the Legislative stream stayed for an hour and a half (till 2 a.m.). The section was thrown out by 36 to 19. The minority included tho Ministry.

In the nest two minutes eight sections went through. • > . By 2.5, section 33 had been reached (cancelling a reserve over the Napier Prison site). Mr. Hornsby asked whether it was intended to sell the site. - -

"It's all right," interjected -several members' who seemed eager now for aquick run.

At this stage there were three men (awake) in the Public Gallery trying to follow the flow of the Bill. Even at 3.30, twooos£ s the men had still some interest in the Bill—and two hours later, they were just as wakeful. There was a long tarry on clause 46, increasing the borrowing powers of the Wanganui River Board. One member offered the explanation that Patea was jealous of Wanganui. At 4.10 a division wa« taken on the clause, and it was retained. Mr. J. S. Dickeon (Parnell) then moved to report progress. He did not press for a division * The last clause (75) went through committee at 4.20.