IN THE HOUSE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12586, 22 August 1901, Page 6

IN THE HOUSE.

. [Prom Our Correspondent ] « WELLINGTON, August 21Private members had' a dull picnic after dinner for over a couple of hours on Mr Hogg’s Bill for amending the Babbit Act. ■ The Minister of Lands denounced The measure, and tried to throw it out by report - • ing progress, but . the. House, thougn it mauled the feelings of the member for Masterton, stood by him. There was a ' good deal of sniping at the measure, but it got through committee at last, with a new clause: addedjs in that cl the adjudicating magistrate has reason a month after a conviction tC think that the rabbits are worse, and that the culprit has not done his best to suppress them, he may fine bun up to £IOO. The general effect of the BUI is to abolish the Inspector as the _ chief authority, and put the magistrate m his place. The Bill’s chances oft passing its final stages are not regarded as the •ereneat. ' , , After-the rabbit came the domestic servant, and the young woman' was used for baltiiag Mr'Barclay till midnight. ;Mr Barclay- spent the time in reading h:s Nhops . and Shop Assistants Act Amendment Bill, and the house spent it in, amusements of various kinds, chiefly at the ; expense of the industrious man in the chair. At lasb.it ■threatened, him with .hostile amendments, ■ and he 'promptly found that the domestic servant must retire from the precincts of , the Bill The Souse applauded him loudly, and jpUt the measure through committee lor ’ Km without more adio. .. .Then came the pleasing surprise of the fight. There was aw ddtea that the Government had 'effected! its proposed change of the 10.30 morning sitting from Friday to Thursday, but When it came to “ The House do now adjourn,” the Speaker finding that nothing hod been really done, adjourned the ■ Howe til 2.30 of Thursday afternoon. As ' - the House separated, Ministers were haranjfumg .groups visibly lessening, and membens, were smiKnig slyly as they passed out into the night at 12.15.