POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7916, 27 September 1911, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

“HOW CRUSHING!’’ Mr IVilford twitted Mr Massey .yesterday with having been with a special edition of the “North Otago Times’’ when he was visiting the south. “Such nonsense, retorted Mr Massey, in scornful tones, “is unworthy of the Mayor of Wellington and the member for Hutt.” ' “How crushing!” said Mr Wilford sweetly. Mr Massey, with increasing wrath: “It would take a steam roller to crush the ’member for Hutt, and then he would come up again like an. india-rubber ball 1 ’’ “That’s what you have found,” murmured tho member for Hutt. THE RACING COMMISSION. Yesterday Mr Berries asked the Prime Minister whether a date bad been fixed for the meeting of the Racing Commission to reconsider certain phases of its former report. The Prime Minister stated that the Law Department was now preparing the way for the Commission to sit. Ho hoped the necessary authorisation would be ready to-day. PARLIAMENTARY ATMOSPHERE. WHAT MAKES IT BAD? Parliament has ‘ a weakness for taking very seriously any matter affecting the comfort of members. Yesterday half-an-hour was spent in discussing the- bad ventilation of tho chamber, made worse by the overcrowded public galleries at night. Mr Graigie, who raised the question, described the general accommodation as good for a makeshift, but be pointed out that members could not remain in the foul a/.r for many hours. “Like the pit of a theatre.' was Mr Graham’s description of the House of Representatives at night. Evidence of the bad effects of parliamentary hours and the parliamentary atmosphere was /quoted by Mr Massey, who said that Messrs James Allen, Hine, Mander and Hogg Vcre away through illness. He asked when the plans for the now* building would be reported upon. Ladies' gossip as a disturbing element in tho parliamentary atmosphere was referred to by Mr Myers, who said it was sometimes impossible to follow the. proceedings owing to this distraction. “If we make it public that ladies can say nothing while they are in the chamber we will have plenty of room,” cynically commented Mr AVilford. A suggestion was made by Mr Rhodes that Professor Scott, of Christchurch, should be asked to report on the ventilation of the building. The Prime Minister pointed, out that previous attempts to provide fresh air during sittings led to members getting colds. Tho pressure caused by the presence of so many outsiders should be stopped. (Hear, hear.) That could be done by refusing to allow more strangers than could be given seats. Replying to Mr Massey, he added that Colonel Vernon, adjudicator in the parliamentary building competition, had been unwell, but his report would soon be ready, Tlpon the -suggestion of Mr Speaker, the whole question of ventilation and the issue of tickets to the galleries was referred to the Standing Orders Committee,

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. Last year the Government spent £10.495 11s 3d in advertising, the amount being spread over 174 newspapers, and sundry guide-books, magazines, show catalogues, and so on. The papers receiving over £10 c wore as follow:

“Post,” Wellington 696 "N.Z. Times," Wellington 575 “Times,” Dunedin 412 “Times," Christchurch 407 "Star," Auckland 405 "Press,” Christchurch ....... ■ 400 "Herald,” Auckland 396 "Star," Dunedin 393 “News,” Invercargill 239 "Times," Invercargill 235 "Star," Greymouth • 202 “Argus," Greymouth 188 "Free Dance,” Wellington 163 "Spectator,” Christchurch 140 “Telegraph." Napier 124 “Guardian." Hokitika 119 "Observer.” Auckland 11l "Mail,” Camara 110 "Times," Hokitika 106 - "Herald," Timaru 105 "Chronicle,” Wanganui 104 "Herald,” Wanganui '• 102 “Times,” Hamilton 102 "Weekly News," Auckland 102 A QUAINT CUSTOM. A standing order of the House of Representatives requires that, during a division when the doors .are closed, if a member desires to address the Speaker he must remain seated and wear a hat. Yesterday, during a division, Mr T, M. Wilford had occasion to address the Speaker on a complicated point. The only hat available in the Ob amber was a light grey felt which Mr Hanan. member for Invercargill was wearing. This was tossed over to Mr Wilford, who, despite the fact that it was some sizes too small, placed it upK>n hie head and was able to obtain a hearing. NEW ZEALAND RENTS. A return of rents in the boroughs of New Zealand indicates that Christchurch, with its unlimited space for suburban expansion, has the lowest average rents in the Dominion,' while Wellington, with its crowded hill sites has the highest rents. A comparison of the four centres,* which was laid before Parliament yesterday., is as under:—

MR SIDEY AND A STANDING ORDER.

When the House resumed last evening after the supper adjournment, Mr T. K. Sidey was "discovered” gaily chatting in the ladies' gallery. Oblivious of the fact that all eyes were upon him, and that the House was patiently waiting for him to take his scat, he continued his energetic conversation, until a messenger, despatched by the Chairman of Committees, touched him on the shoulder. Mr Sidey sprang nimbly up to be greeted with an outburst of laughter from all quarters of the Hpuse.

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