FROM THE GALLERY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 701, 10 May 1916, Page 8

FROM THE GALLERY.

. -.1 m . ■ THE FIRST DAY. SUGGESTIONS OF FIGHT. MR PAYNES HUN CRUSADE. [From our own Parliamentary Rrporter.] WELLINGTON, May 9. The opening of Parliament and the ensuing sitting in the Lower House occupied not more than 30 minutes, and though the speech of his Excellency the Governor went no further than mention of broad measures, members of the Lower House, in the small fusillade of questions of which notice was given, gave very prompt indication that there are many who wish to descend very much to detail. The reminder given by the Governor in his address, that abstinence from party controversy has been agreed to, will not, on present indications, restrain some members whose recess activities have led them to make all sorts of discoveries which they consider require explanation by members of the Cabinet. There was apparent, here and there, a spirit that bespoke belligerence, though the general expression was quite favourable to a perfectly peaceful legislative passage. Mr Payne, whose association with antiGerman ladies and people of the more restive type, appears to have made him forget for the time the labour principles that occupied him earlier* in his political career, was very often on his feet. His questions all related to Huns in one form or another, and their early appearance, considered in the light of Mr Payne's pre-election platform utterances, indicate that he is going to make a big endeavour to obtain satisfaction on this point. In one respect he had the virtue of originality, when he gave notice of a Bill entitled "The Von Zedlitz Robbery Restitution Bill." Mr Payne named the Bill quite seriously, but members generally laughed. A MATTER OF TITLE. Mr Witty had quite a budget of questions to put in respect to wheat and the wheat purchased by the Government from Canada in particular. Mr Wilford gave notice to ask the "Premier" about something, but Mr Massey objected to the term applied to him. "The Prime Minister," he interjected. "Oh, very well," said Mr Wilford, "if you are a stickler for titles I will say the Prime Minister.*' It is quite evident from the way in which members are rushing forward with private Bills that there will be little assistance given by them to the Government in expediting the business of the session. The baiting ot Mr Allen that seems now to be the obvious intention of some members is not calculated to help matters, and the optimistic estimates already given as to the length of the session may undergo considerable modification before long. For about a quarter of an hour questions were voiced, and then Mr Massey rose to make the announcement that the New Zealanders are now at the western front, a statement that was received with warm jr.pplausc from all parts of the House. Mr Massey expressed pleasure that the Australians and New Zealanders were again associated. He was certain that when the order came to advance there would be no hanging back on the part of our boys. THE SYNOD RESOLUTION. Mr Massey also read the patriotic resolution passed by the General Synod of the Anglican Church in Christchurch. It was, he said, so loyal in sentiment and excellent in i tone, that he thought it worthy of j being placed before Parliament. »