AFTERNOON’S DOINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8526, 16 September 1913, Page 7

AFTERNOON’S DOINGS

There -was a good House on. the resumption of business at 2.30 p.m. The Liberal members looked fresh after their Sunday's rest. The chairman immediately stated the question that one of the Mental Hospitals items be reduced by £l. . Mr G. W. Bussell (Avon) rose immediately. “As far as I remember,” he said, “whan the committee adjourned on Saturday night there was a motion before it ,to report progress.” ■ Mr Malcolm; TliA has lapsed with the adjournment. Mr Q. Witty (Biocarton) immediately stepped into the breach. “I move, 6i^v ,, h© said, “that to© item of £10,073, Auckland Mental OVvjpifnlj shall be reduced by £IOO as an, indboatioxL that both th© *3£com2nodatson and staff are insufficient for the right conduct of .the institution; that the salaries paid are inadequate. for the work they have to perform, and that’ the necessary report is not here for discussion.” . That was the beginning of it. With nighs of annoyance from the Government side, the angry slapping down of books and papers by-the sullen Ministry, and the smiling confidence of the Opposition in the right and justice of their fight for a principle, the blockade went on again. Mr W. D. 8. MacDonald (Bay of Plenty) explained the principle for which the liberals were fighting at some length. He maintained that the officer whose duty it was to prepare the annual report of the Mental Hospitals Department was not the servant of the Minister, bat of the public. Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) followed, and showed plainly enough that the rest had done him good. He scathingly rebuked the Government for their record for suppressing res ports. BEOWN BREAD. Mr G. Lauronaon (Lyttelton) again assumed the role of humorist for the occasion. There was an item in the vote “Baker, £156.” Mr Lanrenson wanted to know whether that man baked brown or white bread ‘ ‘for these 858 poor souls at Avondale.” He proceeded to discourse on the. qualities and effects of oatmeal cakes. One might have thought it was irrelevant, but it all had to do with the baker. Mr H. Poland (Ohinemuri) at 3-30 p.m. waa ruled out of order when making a plea for more fish diet for the inmates at Avondale. Mr G. W. Bussell said that as an expert in printing he wanted to make a statement about' the rough proof of the report which was given to the House early on Saturday morning. It was his opinion that the report had been printed during t)iat night. Mr G. Witty (Eiccarton) said they would not be doing thejx duty to the country unless they refused to pass these Estimates until they had the full report of what was going to bo done. A CHANGE. It was at 10 minutes to 6 that a change came o’er the scene. Evidently the Ministry could contain itself no longer. There were whispered consultations—and the Minister of Marine got up. The Opposition applauded him, for here at last was a break in the “dumb-dog”. continuity. Mr Fisher said it had been suggested that the list of Estimates demonstrated that the preparation showed a lack of constructive capacity. These Estimates were made by the Mackenzie Ministry last year, and the present Ministry had not altered them. Mr Bussell: You were unable to

improve them. Wo knew that fore. , Mr Fisher was proceeding to refer to some of the remarks made by the member for Avon, when Mr W. D. S. MacDonald rose to a point of order. “Are we discussing the Mackenzie Estimates of last year?” he asked. - The chairman said the Minister waa in order in making a brief comparison. Mr Fisher: We have not altered the figures. Mr Russell: FoEowing our lead. _ Mr Fisher: W© are waiting for tho Public Service Commissioners. (Opposition laughter and jeers.) ” ■ “PIEBALD SORT OF BUSINESS.” “This is a piebald sort of business,” said Mr L. M. Isitt in rising to continue the debate after Mr Fisher, again called to order, had resumed his seat. He followed this up by having a littio encounter with the Eton. James Allen, who had relieved the Hon. R. EL Rhodes as the Minister-in-Cliarge. The incident ended with Mr Isitt pleading pleasantly that Mr AEen should nob get irritable. Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) continued an argument that tho painter and carpenter at Avondale should bo paid award rates, made several suggestions on the subject. Mr Poland, at 5 p.m., made tho House laugh by complaining that the member for Oamaru had <r gabbled sfimething at him, which he could nob understand.” _ , . Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) began hia speech by quoting the evening paper os foUows:—“lt is safe to conclude that many people in WeUington. will be out of doors to-night to observe the total eclipse of the moon.” Now the Avondale Mental Hospital——Mr Malcolm at onco ruled the member for Hutt out of order, Mr Wilford: I move, sir, that you do report progress to - obtain the Speaker’s ruling.