NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20001, 17 July 1920, Page 9

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

PARLIAMENT DAY BY DAY, DOINGS IN THE HOUSE. (SpecM to the “ Star.* 7 ) WELLINGTON, July 16. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Tho Prime Minister said to-day that he had intended to bring down tho Financial Statement on Tuesday week, but ho had hod to give up preparing It to attend to other business. Ho would do the best he could, THE INDEPENDENTS, * Though there has been no Indication of any party action amongst the Independent body in the House, and though there are no party the members will probably play an important part in Parliamentary affairs, generally, as time goes on. It is understood that the members who attended various meetings number ton, and are Hon J, A. Hanan, Dr Newman, and Messrs Statham, Smith, Veitch, Sykes, Mitchell, J, M. Dickson, Kellotb and Tho party has made an application for a meeting room in the Parliamentary buiidIngß. . A POINT IN THE MARRIAGE law. ■ Tho subtlety of the Native mind, according to Mr M’Callum, has discover-, ed a fine point in the marriage law as it affects many members of the Native raco. Speaking on the Marriage Amendment Bill, Air M’Callum said that tho Registrar at Blenheim was greatly perplexed by a point placed before him. A Maori giil, nineteen years of age, wished to marry a European. Her father consented, but a Native suitor for the lady’s hand argued that tho father had no right to give his consent, because ho was married to the girl’s mother according to tho Native custom, but not according to the European law. The Registrar could find notlimg in the law to settle the problem, except a clause in the Native Land Act, 1909, foalting to Native marriages and the fright of inheritance. The (parties came to Air M’Oallum and ho advised them nob to take the point to the (RUgistrar-iG'eneral, as he might give his decision against the girl. He suggested they should go ahead and get married, and he promised, if tb© Native suitor’s point was upheld, that ho would ask the Government to introduce on amendment to tho law to legalise the marriage. Sir William Henries said he would bo willing to obtain an opinion from the Attorney-General, but he suggested that Mr Al’Callum had become involved in the subtlety which he attributed to the Native. The Alinister remarked that he would be willing to risk a small wager that there was nothing in the point, *. DATS FOR DEPUTATIONS. At 8.20 p.m. to-night, after the House had agreed to tho third reading of the New Zealand Institute Bill, tho Prime Alinister, rather unexpectedly, moved the adjournment. His reason for doing so-was that there was a very important Bill on the Order Paper to he taken next, tho Arms Bill, and he had not had an opportunity of looking into it since it had left the hands of the Jaw draughtsmen. He had been so overworked with other business that ho had found it impossible to attend to the affairs of the House ; and othor Alinisters had been in a similar situation. The Prime Alinister was alluding to the number of deputations ho had had to (receive. Earlier In the afternoon ho had announced that, in view of the increasing number of deputations, and the consequent demands upon his time, ho found it necessary to restrict deputations to two days per week. Ho proposed Alonday ami Thursday for this purpose. Saturday and Wednesday during the session were always reserved for Cabinet meetings, so he had only two days left for departmental and parliamentary work. Tn many cases deputations would receive an equally good hearing if they would be satisfied to have their questions discussed with the Ministerial heads of the Departments Governed, without tho Prime Minister being present. Air Witty: “Why are they not' satisfied?” Tho Hon 0. J. Parr: 05 You are also Minister for Finance.” Air Alassey: “There is u good deal in that no doubt.”