A POLITICAL DAIRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6027, 11 October 1906, Page 6

A POLITICAL DAIRY.

MEN AND MEASURES, A RELAPSE. Just prior to tbe House rising on Tuesday night the Premier.suddenly remembered that October 10th was Labour Day, aud just in time be moved the adjournment of the House until 7.30 p.m. yesterday—or, as Mr Speaker put it in that resonant voice" with which he invests the most trivial jjroceeding wit If. a thunderstriking solemnity, until "half-past seven o’clock to-morrow afternoon.” So far as a Speaker is concerned, everything after midday is afternoon. The fino, drowse of golden tea-time, tho tender deepening of blue and brown as dinner approaches, tbo mellow lin-lan-lono of evening bells, the first star, the whole, gorgeous ripening of twilight into dusk, and tho star-sown night—all of these are so much past x o'clock in ! the afternoon to poor Mr Speaker. To resume: the House went a holidaying in tho sunlight yesterday, and met in a bored and weary fashion in the evening. Tho threo big speeches on Tuesday night had left members’ interest rather below par.

A series of half a dozen Government bills headed the order paper, and before being committed, Mr Hcrrtes waa mai apropos enough to ask about, tho "answers to questions, 1 ' which form the subject of tho customary weekly growl, Mr McLachlan, overpowered by tho dnluess, asked members, to speak up. "Today is Wednesday—-’’ Mr Homes began. "Speak up; can't hear." said Ms McLachlan, "To-day," said Mr Horries, - with petulant loudness, “to-day is Wednesday—” "Hear, hear,” roared a knot of members, and the House laughed, and turned wearily to business.

A long debate began, upon a Saving Banka Profits Bill, and after tho city members bad abused each other’s cities —though what that had to do with it nobody know—Mr Hogg rambled so vaguely that Tom Mackenzie, who np* pears to have transferred his affections) from Mr Eli to Mr Hogg, igravoly ospdTsed; tho latter member’s relevancy, and, although ho knew nothing whatever concerning tho intent of the measure, pbjectod to its being so disoussed os to; delay the reapparonco of tho Land Bill.

A dreadful waste of time ensued upon th* Saving Banks. Bill, and a close division led Mr Wilford to ask whether Messrs Arnold and Barclay, who had voted, were not interested in the bill os trustees of some affected institution, Mr Platman was in the chair, and; as usual, ho got into difficulties in endeavouring to grapple with a swift succession of flimsy -points of order. After a great deal of friction and confusion, the debate returned to the bill. .The evening waa filled up by incessant disc Wien of tho dullest character, with frequent divisions, and the only sign of a Land Bill during the sitting was n notice of motion by Mr A. L„ D. Fraser to introduce a Land Bill No. 2, which he anticipates will solve everybody's trouble in Si twinkling.