HEADING HIS SPEECH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6679, 30 November 1908, Page 3

HEADING HIS SPEECH.

Among the things not allowable in the House of Commons is for a member to read a novel, a newspaper, or his own speech. .A man is permitted to have the fullest notes, but it is a gross breach of the rules to deliver an oration which he has carefully penned In the solitude of his library. It is not often that a,man is called to order, but a few nights r/ago, near twelve o'clock,. Mr Sears" of Cheltenham, was brought up with ;|erk by Mr Eramott. the ChairmaUjOf Committees. Nobody was paying much attention to Mr Sears, as he ploughed along.with his head over his manuscript. But the Emmottlan eye was .upon him. and suddenly the Chairman jumped up as though he had been stung and attacked the meek-mannered gentleman who represents the town of ladies' colleges. lie mildly protested. "I wasn't rending, sir," he pleaded; “I was'only looking at my notes." ,r ßut I hare been watching you," said Mr Emniott, with a hint that, if Mr Sears was not guilty, he had better not do it again. Thereupon Mr Sears proceeded, with one eye flicking upon what he called his notes, and the other focussed upon the Chairman. Hr Emmott kept both eyes on Mr Sears. It vrae really a most disi dressing spectacle, and when at last the representative of Cheltenham subsided he looked limp.