POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 150, 22 December 1921, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

With the rush of work and tho disappearance of members the House of Representatives assumed quite an end-of-aoHHion appearance yesterday. The House had worked so well on Monday and Tuesday that only one measure in the "iniiiit piuw" claos remained. That was the Expiring Lawn Continuance Bill, which provoked no discussion, aft it was ronlly a Bill to give tho Houso two more montlm to muko up its mind which of tho axiiiring lawn nhould bo allowod to die. HUH, Urn tiim> wiu) not wasted. A deluge of minor Departmental paper* and ooinmitUto ro|K>rtn descondod on the House in the afternoon, and inevitably these hod to bo talked about until 5.30 at any rule. In tlio evening the Hou/io commenced quite cheerfully to paes local Bills. Mr. Hockly was quito ready to give reasons why tho first Bill on tho list 'Should ho read a sotond time, but tho Houso waa so willing to any "Aye" without roniton that he sat down. This mood lasted until the Wellington Zoo Bill was reached, when it was found the House would say "Aye" only within reason. That Bill was deferred, but the ice had been broken and some other Bills were discussed. They were all passed, however, by 9.50. To save ft morning sitting the Houao adjourned till the Legislative Council should also pans the local Bills. The Council took much longer than was expected; and even a male voice choir of members of the House failed to induce greater expedition. Finally it was 0,30 a.m. before the bell rang, and the House was advised that the Council had passed the local Bills. So it was Thursday after all before Parliament adjourned for Christmas. The Prime Minister, in a, few words, regretted the necessity for meeting again after Christmas, wished members a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, and moved the adjournment till 11th January. The Council adjourned vjntil 10th January. The following local Bills were passed: Whakatane Harbour (Mr. Hockly); Picton Recreation Reßerve Amendment (Mr. M'Callum); Inch-Clutha Road, RiveV, and Drainage Amendment (Mr, Edie); Palmerston North Borough Loans Consolidation (Mr. Nash); Napier Harbour Board and Napier High School Empowering Amendment (Mr. Brown); Napier Harbour Board Enabling (Mr. Brown); Auckland Electric-power Board (Mr. J. S. Dickson); Wellington City Empowering (Mr. Wright).