IN THE HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7212, 25 September 1901, Page 1

IN THE HOUSE.

[Fbou Ora Correspondent.] WELLLINGTON, Sept. 24. In the House in the afternoon we had one of the pointers of the approach of the end of the session. Private members*' day was annexed by the Government. There was, of course, the usual plaintive outcry. Mr Horrisby pleaded for has Bill for docking the profits of rings and combines. Why, it was only the other day that he had received sheaves bf letters against the great mill" trust! Mr Fowlds urged that he (had brought the problem of the Cycle Board Bill within a. mere 'bagatelle of a- degree of solution, While Mr G. J. Smith spoke handsomely for the Libel Bill of Mr Carncross. Mr 'Smith broke the record for unselfishness, being perhaps the firsfc member who sought 'to prevent the slaughter of <the innocents by • pleading for the innocent of another, member, but Fate, I fear, . is against him jusfc as much as it is against Mr .Fowlds and Mr- Hornsby. All! three Bills have too many determined enemies in the House to permit a hope of their safety, no matter J how .many days they, may have at the, disposal of their sanguine authors. The only indication of hostility was given by the member, for Waihemo, who denounced the Horpisby Bill uphill and down dale. The other hostile elements were content with a triumphant silence. Tbe slaughter was rapidly effected, and after it was over the Housed went into Committee of. Supply without debate, as is tbe s rule on Tuesdays, bufc what time was gained in the House' was lost iw committee in wandering aimlessly over a variety of subjects. Tne first was an Auckland grievance, and here we 'had the astonishing spectacle of a united dead-set of ail the Aucklanders against a registration officer. Mr Fisher hit off this peculiarity in his burlesque way, saying, " I know nothing about this matter, but the best officer for me is the officer who returned- me." Auckland heckled the Government for hours over this unhappy man, and the Government defended itself manfully on the, ground that statutory officers must not be interfered with. . After dinner the .first subject of discussion was tihe Agent-General, andi the Ooihnrittee roamed, over tihe whole of the. subject of 'the office, ami romped .through, the list „of Agents-General, uttering 1 afl sorts of .notes in the comparative degree. Ib was an amusing hub unprofitable exhibition. As a matter of course, Mr Reeves and his teLegrams during th© Boer war came in. for conisiderable comment. As a matter of coiumse, also, the Premier and MvWandi defended their man with great heartiness. Then* tlhe tide turned on to the Government printing establishment, aand flowed through dt peccasJtently. The main subject Was the machinery. Mr Willis urged the purchase of the mbnoline, and thie Minister of Publio Works said the fact tihat- the monoline is cheaper 'Uhan the Jinotype' proved the wisdom of the Government in* not burfying to\ buy the linotype. The : current of discussion sefc hard om,#ke need for changing from the old case system, for it is -evidlent to all that the printing office cannot "keep up withrParßameh*. It' is all* right out of session, bulb during session tibe work gets behind ihopelessly. ' The hardship to the I printers was a stumbling' block, the palthetdc power of which all the speakers .recognised. It became evident, however, that it is only a -quwluoiP' 11 'wfr»--i3ni*B; : awd -hie change, it is clear, from the speeches of Ministers, will be made gradually. The public (health- was -the nexfc subject of discussion, the chief point of Which was Sir Joseph; Ward's defenoe of the Depairtmemt as bavin g already saved the oountry vast sums. - s