POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7914, 25 September 1911, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

WHO WASTES TIME? N WELLINGTON MEMBERS INDICTED. It pleased sundry Opposition speakers in the House during Friday's discussion on the first item of the Estimates to charge tho Government with wilfully delaying business with a view of rushing it through in a hurry at the end of tho session. No evidence was brought forward in support of tho accusation, which was very effectively replied to late at night by th© Hem. A. T. Ngata. ‘Tier©," he said, "we have an excellent -example of how it is that there is a rush at the session ond." And he proceeded to point out that already the lions© had spent some nine hours ovei tho first item on the first page of Estimates, tho whole discussion being on a matter of principle, which should not properly have been introduced then at all. The main blame for the delay, however, he fastened on to the members representing Wellington constituencies, saying that it was their fixed habit to monopolise attention almost every night from 7.30 to 9.30 o'clock, while the public galleries were full. After supper, however, they wore not so active, and left th© real work to tho unfortunate men who represented other parts of th<s Dominion.

These statements wero greeted ( with hearty “hear, hearts" from the "unfortunate men" referred to, approval being again expressed when the speaker declared his conviction that the Wellington members occupied far more time than any other group of men. -in the House. Tho result was that at the end of the session tho House had to work hard to make up for some of the time lost by th© tactics and showing-off of the local representatives. "THE REACTIONARY PARTY.” TIRED OPPOSITIONISTS. Members of the Opposition appear to bo very anxious to establish their claim to progmssivenoss and energy, and some of them ■ display signs of restiveness when charged with being members of a reactionary party. Mr Newman, one of tho "reformers," was much perturbed when the charge was repeated in the House at the end of last week. "I desire," he said, "to protest against out being termed a reactionary party, and I think it is .quit© time that it was stopped. For myself, I challenge anyone to point to on© vote I have given against a progressive measure/' ‘T will give on© presently," said Mr EH, amid laughter. a # Mr Newman reiterated that in his opinion it was time that th© constant attack upon tho Opposition as reactionary and Tory was dropped. There was a lack of originality about it, and he was feeling tired. Subsequently, after some research in last session's "Hansard," Mr Eli fulfilled his promise by demonstrating to the House that Mr Newman and his associates had voted against more than one progressive measure. Thus the charge of f * reactionary" - was once more proved.

‘•THE MEMBER FOR SAWDUST.” One of the little comedies which would have amused the galleries had they been full was wasted on a small House when Friday blight was merging into Saturday morning, with business still going on. An interruption by Mr B. \V. Smith, member for Bangitikei, drew from Mr Fisher a scornful declaration': "That’s what the member for sawdust says!” “Order!” cried members, and Mr Fisher was reminded by the Chairman of Committees (Mr Colvin) that he had referred to an honourable member in an J unparliamentary, fashion. "I beg his | pardon,” replied > Mr Fisher- promptly. But the "injured" one soemed uncon-1 cerned over these efforts to protect his dignity. His feelings were unruffled, and he looked as if he felt proud of the appellation. ■WANGANUI RIVER MAILS. In reply to a request made by Mr B. W. Smith that an improvement be made in tho present very irregular and unsatisfactory mail delivery on the Wanganui river, more especially at the landings on the upper reaches, the Prime'"Minister stated that this was the first time he had heard of the dissatisfaction. He promised to have the matter investigated. MR FISHER’S CONVOLUTION S. The member for Wellington Centra'! must have felt uncomfortable when Mr H. G. Eli presented to the House a few days ago a snapshot of Mr Fisher’s political career, and an interpretation of his : remarkable convolutions. “He joined the ultra Radical party, and then the reactionary party,” said Mr Ell. "Whv'Because ho feared the party in office might go under, and he thought he ■might come-in on the rising tide. The reactionary tide is not rising, however, but the Liberal tide is still- rising.” Ml Herries; “It’s an ebb tide." Mr Ell; "You. hope so!” EARTHQUAKE RECORDS. > ■The Milne seismograph, states the Survey Department report, .enabled the Department last year to obtain records of seventy-four earthquakes. This instrument had now been* provided with a quick-moving recorder, giving a more open time scale on the records, which facilitated the identification of the various places of the motion, and also in tor-comparison with records obtained at different places.