MOCK PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11783, 8 November 1912, Page 6

MOCK PARLIAMENT.

; , (By Telegraph.) (Special .to. the OaniaruMail.) .-■ ..Wellington, November-7. Several tinies this session the House of Representatives has been a mock Parliament, therefore it was rather an act of supererogation to have another one. To-night, however, the division was welcomed bv the crowded galleries of ladies and even, by the weary press gallery: Tlie foolery was much-bett'oi-than it had been for years. Pressmen had' come to dread serious attempts at mock Parliament, but happily this time some preparations had been, made to promote some laughter. .A Bill advocating a -return to primitive conditions was ' introduced Ijy 'Te Raiigihiroa (Dr Buck), who Maori name is much Tratchered in ..the House. Mr Anderson, resplendent' in a Maori, mat,- was speaker, and' Mi* F. H. Smith, wrapped in something like a hearthrug was Ser-' geant-at-Arms.. ' Auckland Central's/ arch-comedian,- Mr. Glover, was Premier, and Mr Wilson (Taumarunni)'and Dr Pomare divided the honor of leadership of tlie Opposition.: Various passable puns"wefra-bravely uttered by Wags, and though the merrymaking was occasionally very primitive'it was enjoyable. Members 'who lookew frayed, faded and 1 frazzled this morning had freshened up remarkably, and all were frisky in the 'final;.exchanges of compliments for the session's." close. Sir J. G. Ward acted • for the Opposition, and hinted at a few months'--absence, from-New Zealand. . -