THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12763, 6 October 1919, Page 8

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

* DEBATE ON THE BUDGET. HURRY AT THE FINISH. ((Special to “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, October 6The House of Representatives has at last finished the Financial debate. It has not taken an unusual time for ai party session, and it would probably have been going yet, but for the fact that the Prime Minister would not allow it to go over the week-end. and. thus run the risk of an intercepting motion which can be brought on any day but Friday. With this position realised members who had not spoken and wished to speak (there were several of them) decided that it was not worth while debating the question in a House of winch more than half the members were away, and a proportion of the remainder were asleep. The debate began well on Tuesday with a forceful speech by the Leader of the Opposition, and a concise reply by the Minister ot Finance. There have been a few bright patches since. For example, there was ■Sir John Findlay’s interesting discourse on the root causes of social evils. Mr Downie Stewart’s remarks on the “sham fight’’ and nationalisation questions, Air L. M. Isitt’s reply in defence of Liberal independence, and tho Hon G. W. Russell’s exemplification of his independence. On Friday night there was a rather unusual speech from one of the new Ministers, the Hon J. B. Hine. Mr Hiiie was a bit wide _ of tbo mark in some of his criticism, and his expression of opinion puzzled some members. There have been Independent members, but an Independent Minister is something of a novelty, if nothing else. The speeches of members ns a. whole have been remarkable for their sameness. ' Most began with an apology lor wasting the time of the House, some did not apologise. Then came the summary of tho main points of tho Dominion finance (which were usually correct if the member did not rely on his memory), to be followed by tho memlier’s statement that he was not n.u authority on finance —(hear, hear)—blithe considered that this disclosed reasons for congratulation (or caution as the case might be-) In nine coses out of ten the opening words, when the member, after several ineffectual attempts, caught the Speaker’s eye, were to the following effect:—“ Air Speaker, 1 had not intended to speak on this occasion, but the remarks of the honourable member for —— make it necessary for me to say a few words.” Then followed the few words, about 5000 usually. Mr Payne began rather differently:—“ Air Speaker, I have only a. few words to say. I shall not taka more than an hour.” Apart from the Budget debate, tho House has done very little business, it had one private members’ night, and wasted it in stonewalling a Bill vrhicn was in the bands of the Chairman of Committees (Mr Malcolm.) Of course Air Malcolm could not retaliate by requesting bon members to keep to tho point. Tho Legislative Council has becn enjoying itself in raising privilege points with regard to the introduction in tho House of Representatives of the Women’s Parliamentary Rights Extension Bill, which proposed to amend the constitution of the Legislative Council. When this privilege point was upheld, and. as a compromise, the Bill was amended by striking out the reference to the Council, the Hon .J- T. Paul raised tbo contention that the Council bad already agreed to tho “ nomination and election ” of women as members of the Second Chamber when they should be eligible for election tn the House of Representatives. Sir Francis Bel! replied that “nomination” was not the nomination 1 more correctly termed appointment) which now obtains, but{.lie nomination by electors precedent to candidature at an election. Moreover, the provision was in the Legislature Amendment Act, which is not yet in operation. !