POLITICAL PALAVER,

NZ Truth, Issue 327, 30 September 1911, Page 4

POLITICAL PALAVER,

j Picked up Pars m and | i out of Parliament. 1 I J

Ex-Minister Fowlds, having vacated his seat m the front ro*vv of U->-Treasory benches, has seleciert^.-'MI m the back row alongside— cair - . - v guess it m one ? George Laurensou • One may truly say of the two wowseristic Georges, "Arcades ambo," translating it. as m " ; Charles O'Mailey," as "•archdeacons both." Tho new Evangelist is evidently, pick-, ing his company with an eye on future contingencies. An unusual and somewhat senbutional occurrence took place at' the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening. The galleries were full to overflowing, and, as is not frequent, the ladies were ranged round the amphitheatre. The debate on the railway estimates dragged on, and members here and there chipped m with sundry interjections. Catching the infection, the ladies present began to chatter m such a manner as to make it quite impossible for anyone m the press gallery to hear a word of the debate m. progress. Then the press gallery rose m revolt. Rising m a body, the press representatives got tip and left the gallery. A moment later Mr Colvin received a respectfully worded memo, complaining of the disorder and the buzz of conversation. The result was an announcement from the Chair, a return to due decorum, and the ultimate return of the press representatives. Triumph of the press ! The system of admitting ladies to the floor of the House is altogether wrong m principle, and should be abolished. There is a ladies' gallery, just as, there. is a men's gallery, and, when it is full, no further ladies should be admitted, just as, when the men's gallery is full, no further men are admitted. The presence of ladies may, possibly, tend to liven up the surroundings, as one member put it to a representative of this journal, biit that is surely reducing Parliament to the level ot a pantomime or a picture show. A pantomime it! often is, to be sure, but there is no reason to encourage a too prevalent tendency, and a galaxy of chattering busy-bodies around the Hous e certainly has that effect. On Tuesday evening, T. EL Sidey _ left his seat m the chamber and went over to talk to a . lady m the "circle," thereby committing a breach of the Standing Orders, being a "stranger" m the gallery, for which dereliction of duty he was promptly reprimanded by Chairman, of Committees Colvin. Touching upon admission to the public galleries, "Truth" has ascertained that ' fresh supplies of admission tickets are found requisite every few weeks, this being due to the fact that only a fraction • of those issued to members ever find their way back. It is ■ a fact that enough tickets have been issued this session to keep the galleries full for the remainder of the session without another ticket being issued. Where on earth do they go, and to what purpose are the little blue cards put ? It is a well-known fact that some members keep a supplyon hand, distributing them broadcast to their constituents, and several of the orderlies always have some available m their pockets. The present lackadaisical system is faulty, and, unless Mr Speaker can control the issue better, it would be preferable to abolish the ticket sys-> tern altogether. In NJ3JW. tickets change color daily, and one day's tickets are not available for the next day. In any case, why, m a democratic community, should visitors to Parliament be requested, to. obtain a ticket ? • . • • : A little bird has let it out that Monday evening saw a harmless little festive gathering m the precincts of Parliament House, partaking oi the nature of an oyster* supper, whereat one H. N. Holmes was the guest of the evening. Minister^ Ngata, so the little bird lets out, was the chairman or president; and. of course the two Georges and the 'Murkan were there. Hut why "was Holmes so honored by Parliamentarians ? The Mines Statement laid on the table of the House of Representatives by the Minister oi Mines (Hon. It. McKenzie) congratulated members on the very successful results from the mines of the Dominion, and on the present indications pointing to continued satisfactory returns. While the total mineral-pro-duction shows a small decrease, the two principal branches oi the industry, viz., quartz and coalmining, show substantial increases. The returns from kauri-gum and alluvial mining show considerable decreases. Important developments are expected from recent fresh discoveries af gold reported to the Mines Department, and from a galena lode showing satisfactory, assay values discovered m the Nelson district. Tha. Minister is optimistic regarding ijhe prospects of petroleum becoming an important branch of our mining industry m the near future, extensive boring operations m connection with "which- are going on m three different and far-distant parts of the Dominion, and are being watched and periodically examined and reported on by officers of the Department. The Minister goes on to state that one of the most pleasing features m connection with our mining industry is the increase of S7S m th© number of men employed during the I year, and according to present indications it may be anticipated that this avenue of employment will be ■considerably extended m the immediate future, as mining operations at present m their initial stages are sufficiently advanced and developed to become productive. •, * * Field, uncompromising supporter of the Government though he be, does not hesitate to criticise the Government's action when he considers that his constituents' rights are not being conserved. It was m this frame of mind that, on the Railway Estimates, he complained bitterly of the inadequacy of the Manawatu railway time-table^