AN EYE ON PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12761, 3 October 1919, Page 6

AN EYE ON PARLIAMENT.

PARTIES AND POLITICS.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY,

(Special to “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, October 2.

MR ISITT AND THE LABOUR LEADER.

When it might have been inferred from the remarks of Mr L. M. Isitt that Mr J. Payne was supposed to speak for the Labour Party, Mr H. L. Holland (chairman of tho party; questioned the statement.

1 don’t know whom ho spoke lor, replied Mr Isitt. They may have been squabbling amongst themselves, as they are now.

Mr Holland again interjected, liow were you elected leader of the Labour Party? asked Mr Isitt. The same as you elect your leader, replied Mr Holland.

\Ve have never put our hands into the hat yet and drawn a ballot for the loader, retorted Mr Isitt.

BOUQUET FOR A MINISTER. The member for Wellington North, Mi J. P. Luke, had a hit at the Minister of Public Works, but ho first placed a soft mattress for the hou. Minister to fall on. Mr Luko said w© all have a great admiration for the present head of the Department. Mr Poole: Oh, there’s a bouquet! Mr Luko; There never was a more zealous and earnest .Minister of Public Vv orks. Members; Oh! Mr Luke; But ho is very reticent. We can’t get information out of him. Members: Except by choking him. Mr Luke: 1 don’t think we would get much information by choking him. Mr Poole: You’re a great smoodger, you are.

-MR SEMPLE HAS THE LAST WORD. Speaking iu the Houso to-night of the member for Christchurch North Mr Semple referred to the raving ol the reverend gentleman. Mr Isitt rose to a point of order. “1 am not reverend gentleman at all,” he said. 1 have not been one for thirty years. Have you ratted? interjected Mr Semple.

Mr speaker called for silence, and then said that the 'member for Wellington South must refer to Air Isitt m a proper manner and speak of him as member for the district ho represented.

Mr Somplo had the last word. I thought 1 was flattering the honourable gentleman, he said; I did not know ho objected to the term reverend.

EXTREMISTS BITING AT HIS HEELS. There is no Labour Government in Australia now, said Air Holland when Mr Jill was quoting the record of New Zealand as compared with that of Australia under Labour rule. No, retorted Air Ell, you never have Labour Government. You are too extreme for any Government to stand by v.ji. I have always been in the front of radicalism, out I have always had the extreme section biting at mv hj sals 0 J