NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20055, 18 September 1920, Page 9

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

PARLIAMENT DAY BY DAY. DOINGS SNTHE HOUSE, (Special to the "Star.") "WELLINGTON, September 17. RIGHTS OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. It is a rare experience for the leader of the Opposition iti the House to move to reduce an item of the Estimates as Mr Vi'iii'ord did to-day, without any accompanying speech, and the- events which followed wore equally a surprise. Hie House had no sooner resolved itself into a committee to deal with the Estimates; than Mr Wilford moved that the first item be reduced by £o, as an indication that the time had arrived ivhen the Government could fairly grant civil and political rights to railway servants. Mr Wilford immediately sat down, and no member nor Minister rose to speak. When the chairman put the amendment a division was loudly called for. The doors were locked, land a few members in one part of the Chamber were seen to bo closely conferring. One of theni, Mr Nash, putting on bis hat as tho doors were closed, asked Mr Malcolm if he might nut a question. The question was whether the amendment was not out of order, as tbe Civil Servants already had political rights. "The time has gone by for discussion,' declared the chairman. Ho put the question and announced the tellers. _ Even then there seemed little indication in the. Chamber that the Government anticipated a. closfc vote. One Government whip was not Feen and the other showed no signs of undue' activity, but as members trooped into their respective lobbies it Was easy to see that the unexpected was happening. Tlie result was announced by the chairman as—For the amendment 30, against tho amendment 30. "The voting is equal./' said Mr Malcolm. "As T understand the rights mentioned in tlie amendment arc already given, or to bo given, to railway employees. I will give my vote against tho amendment. Unlock the doors." LOOK AFTER THE CHILDREN. As a reason for carrying young children free on the railway Mr Howard argued in the' House of Ronrescn'.'itives that tfchey -.must sutysidfee. the growing of children as thev subsidised the growing of wheat "We are locking out Chinamen and sending Jews hack to Jerusalem, and what are we to do in 1 his country for population if we don't encourage the production of children?" LAW DRAUGHTSMAN BUS?. The law draughtsman ia having an extremely busy time at present keeping pace with the requirements of Parliament. This fact, was referred to yesterday bv tho Minister of Justice (tho Hon E. P. Lee). Mr Sidcy asked whether it was proposed to introduce tbe Patents Bill this session, and the Minister replied that proposed legislation was in tbe hands of the law draughtsman, but when it would bo presented to tho Houso he could not say. i Quito a number of Bills were in his hands at present. COAL FROM AMERICA. Coal still forms n big item as far as tho Railways Department is concerned. _ Speaking in the House the Prime Minister said there was now on the way to Now Zealand a shipment of SOOO tons of coal from America, and that was costing the Government over £(i per ton. Tho Government, he added, had frequently paid over £7 a ton tor coal.