POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9783, 5 October 1917, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

"STRANGERS IN THE GALLERY” A VERY EMBARRASSING SITUATION.

Rather an embarrassing situation arose in the House of Representatives last night during tho debate on. tho measure to combat venereal diseases. Mr A. E- Glover (Auckland Central) appeared anxious to deal with tho subject with the glovos off. Ho regretted, however, that the standing orders of the House did not allow the drawing of tho. Speaker’s attention to the fact that there were “strangers in the gallery.” A member interjected that tho Bouse had such a standing order. Mr Glover: “Then I must ask the Speaker’s ruling on the question.” There was an embarrassing silence. Tho ladies’ gallery was crowded, and the expressions on their faces, all directed towards the Speaker’s chair, spoke volumes. Mr Speaker was about to rise, and it appeared inevitable that the galleries would he cleared. The Hon. G. W. Russell saved a very embarrassing situation. “May I cay a few words?” said Mr Russell, “in my opinion there is nothing in this bill that cannot be discussed in the light of day.” (Chorus of relieved “Hear, hears.”) “There is nothing' that should not be discussed in the presence of the women here as long as there is no departure from the canons of good taste.” Mr Glover chivalrously accepted the Minister’s assurance, and tihe ladies in the gallery looked very relieved. NEW ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES KEENLY DISCUSSED IN THE LOBBIES. Tho burning topic yesterday in the lobbies of the Houes was, of course, the alteration in tho electoral boundaries. Groups of members discussed the new boundaries from all the ditterent aspects, and hazarded many and varied opinions. Strong expressions of dissatisfaction were given vent to by many members. Some members who have had their electorates increased are not at all pleased with the extension of their vote-canvassing area. There was talk of Mr R. Scott, member for Otago Central, who is one OI the members who is losing his seat hading another seat in the Legislative Council, also of another venerable southern representative joining him m that Chamber to leave his seat vacant for contest by another member who had lost his seat. Another southern member, Mr Anstoy (Waitaki), can hardly be satisfied with his new electorate. Air J. Colvin loses Westport, and probably is not pleased with this. Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) gains a rather large tract of sparsely populated. district. Mr McOallum (wairau) will have new electors in Havelock and tho greater portion of the Sounds. and of -the country districts oast of Nelson. The member for Lyttelton (Mr McCombs) will find himself with a Reform stronghold around Ellesmere when he mounts the hustings next general election- Those are only a few of many important alterations. Some Lobbyist© hold that the new boundaries will bo anything but welcome to Reform members. Besides the fact that the Reformers lose two seats to one Liberal one, the alterations in other boundaries, it is thought, will not bring in more votes for their candidates. Mr X- M. Wilford, it appears, is quite in accord with the reduction in the Hutt electorate, aa its population of 14,000 is considerably ( in excess of the average district. The alterations in other Wellington districts are mentioned elsewhere. SALE OF LIQUOR BILL. A big day’s business faces the Legislative Gounod to-day, when the Sale of Liquor Bill will reappear before it from the Statutes Revision Committee. Lengthy and important amendments are proposed to the biE, which ordinarily would provoke a lengthy discussion. There had been talk of the Council possibly upsetting the action of tho Lower House in. inserting 6 o’clock closing. It appears hardly likely that if an amendment were moved in the direction of extending the hours that it would pass a division. Apparently the majority in the Council are six o’olookers. It is understood thaifc an effort will be made to put the measure through all its stages in one day, and to help this the CouncE will, if necessary, sit in the evening. The bill consequently appear before the House of Representatives again, next week, when the amendments proposed in the Council, if passed, are bound to provoke an interesting discussion. “He LAUGHS LOUDEST ” “Doctors of hundreds of years of practice have held—” commenced Mr J. Payne in the House last night. “Hundreds of years?” queried a member, smilingly. “Doctors of hundreds or years of practice have held,” continued Mr Payne, smiling at the interruption indulgently. “Hundreds of years?” repeated the interrupter, smiling, with an air of superiority. , Mr Payne (blissfully): Doctors ot hundreds of years of practice throughout the ages.” Mr Payne ©cored his point gracefully, and the House appreciated it.