Mr. Speaker . . .

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker . . .

Session Queries and Asides

(THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Friday. After work cometh rest, and aJfter storm cometh calm. For a change, at the end of what has been a distinctly tropical week, the House of Representatives had a spell of comparative rest this afternoon, and adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until next Tuesday. The Imprest Supply debate was a rather lifeless affair, with each member riding his own hobby-horse, and leaving recrimination and harsh words about his opponents alone. The Bill, which was passed through all its stages just before the House rose, provides for a sum of not more than £2,953,000.

Four days’ leave of absence was granted Mr. J. W. Munro (Dunedin North), because of urgent public business.

Notice to introduce the Auckland Electric-Power Board Bill was given by the Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral.

The Sumner Land Vesting Bill (Mr. McCombs), Christchurch Electricity and General Empowering Bill (Mr. Sullivan), Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill (Mr. Savage), and the Christchurch City Reserves Amendment Bill (Mr. Armstrong), were each read a first time, and referred to the Local Bills Committee.

Asked by Mr. Coates before the House rose what was the business for Tuesday, Sir Joseph Ward replied that standing orders would be considered and then the House would have to adjourn because of the recent death of an ex-member, Mr. J. F. Arnold, who represented Dunedin North.

Evidently Mr. T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa) likes to hear his name mentioned on the floor of the House, and views any announcement of it, whether good or bad, with distinct approval. His name was on the lips of many Parliamentarians during the Address-in-Reply debate. and each time it was mentioned Mr. McDonald came to light with a benign, “Hear, hear.” It grew monotonous after a while.

After The Battle It was not until late in the Address-in-Reply debate that the big guns on each side were set off, but when they had finished firing and the reverberations and the smoke of battle had rolled away there was really a huge amount of political carnage to be seen. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, and the Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, have unearthed what is now familiar as the “Vaile letter,” but the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, denies ever having sent out the letter, so there you are. The Government speeches on the whole have been disappointing, for too much time has been wasted by members in venting useless spleen on the Opposition and trying to prove its sins of omission and commission. There has not yet been a real policy speech from any of the Government members except, possibly, the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs.

Nelson Street Eyesore Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) gave notice to ask the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, whether, in view of the fact that only portion of the land purchased for the new school at Napier Street, Auckland, has been prepared as a playing area and that a large portion is at present an eyesore and blot upon the neighbourhood, as well as a harbour for noxious weeds, will the Minister make provision on the estimates for the proper levelling and preparation of the area?

There has been some bright interjection during the week and some of what Mr. Wilford called “cap and bells" humour. The standard of humour is

not very high, although some of the members have put across some good things.

For a forthright, sturdy speech, laced generously with houmour, and mostly good humour, and rich with juicy humanity, the speech of Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) would be hard to beat. Then there was that fine effort of the Prime Minister, who was in his old form on Tuesday evening.

Sayings Of the Week “T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa) joined the Labour Party and paid up his money like a man.” —R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs). “If Mr. McDonald had not gone for the United Party he would have stood for the prohibitionists.” —Mr. Wright.

“The lad or lassie, man or woman, who has got a scientific bias in training will make a better farmer than the man who has only got what you might call an agricultural bias.”—Mr. E. J. H o ward (Christchurch South ).