BANTER IN THE HOUSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 117, 18 April 1931, Page 9

BANTER IN THE HOUSE.

A QUESTION OF POLICY

(By Telegraph.—Special po Standard.)

WELLINGTON, April 17. The present relationships between the Government and the Reform party continue to provide material for sarcastic Labour sallies and in this train an attempt was made by a speaker in the House of Representatives to-day to attribute to the Opposition the authorship of amendments introduced by Governor-Gen-eral’s message to the Govelnment Railways Amendment Bill. “The amendments are just what you asked for and you shall receive,” was the jibe of Mr D. G. Sullivan when Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates ; Leader of the Opposition, sought a Ministerial outline of the amendments proposed. Taking up the same line of banter, Mr P. Fraser suggested that parhaps Mr Coates could give the fuller explanation of the alterations as the Prime Minister probably had not had time to read them.

“I suppose the amendments are a twin to the foundling the Minister of Railways had to wet-nurse in shape of the Bill itself,” added Mr Fraser. “His office has become quite a home for foundlings and as genially as possible he lia6 assumed the role of foster-parent to them.” It was left for Mr E. J. Howard to inquire whether the Reform Party had come to a common agreement and whether all the opposition from that side pf the House would now cease, making it only a matter of pushing the Bill through. “The Prime Minister might as well be frank, as members are particularly keen now to return to their homes.” Mr Coates: Oh, cheer up. Reform got in the final shot, Mr F. Waite asking Mr Howard whether he intended to move the closure 1