NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20076, 12 October 1920, Page 7

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

PARLIAMENT DAY BY DAY. doings in the house. (Special to the “ Star.”) , WELLINGTON, October 11. SAMOAN PLANTATIONS. T | ie Prime Minister was asked by Mr Holland whether the statements which appeared in “ Stead’s Review ” (last month’s issue) concerning Samoan property were correct. The passages referred to were:—“ That property of Gormans in Samoa has been sold to tbo highest bidder,’’ and also “ Tho Burns, tlnlp Company aro naturally anxious 0 get valuable plantations of the Pacino Islands, and wo find that they havo directly or indirectly bought in tho Gorman estates the "New Zealand! GovC ' r !r? lcn t have confiscated.” , ,PHuio Minister; “ I don’t read bread s Review.’ It is a publication that no decent or patriotic man ought to road. (Labour laughter.) Tho statements are absolutely incorrect and the reverse of fact.” TWENTY-FIVE MORE BILLS. fillister was asked by •I 1 ' ", T to-night if ho would give an I, 1 ,. 0 * ' y hat business be intended to ask arhnmcnt to deal with during tho reinamder of the session. As far as fho GTder■ Taper indicated there were beR °.™ ™o House one private member’.! l>iU and four Government Bills, a most unusuid thing at this stage of the m\skj. o ?,' -,^ lc Minister road a list 01 tho Bills that would be brought forward. Mr Witty: “Will there be a Bill dealing with industrial life insurance?” “Yes, there will be a small Bilk” ~ l^le Prime Minister added that as iar os he could sec there were yet to bo dealt with ten major Bills’ and 1 jwc lulnor . Bills. There should bo no difficulty in getting that done during the nest four weeks. MR M’COMBS CLASHES WITH THE SPEAKER. Jho calm of the debate upon the Gaming Amendment Hill was disturbed about 2. JO a.in., when Air Al’Corabs was speaking for the second time and endeavouring to show cause why tho second reading should bo postponed for six months. Air Speaker reminded Mr M Combs of the necessity for speaking to the amendment, and not bringing in irrelevant matters. When the warning bad been repeated once or twice Mr Al’Combs suddenly retorted: Air Speaker is defending tho Government and is not doing his dutv.” Sir Frederick Lang; “ 1 cannot allow tho hon. member to make a statement like that. I must ask him to withdraw.” Air M’Combs: “ I unhesitatingly say you are nob giving me fair play’” Air Speaker asked the member in charge of the House to take notice of what had boon said. Ho was doing ivhat he considered his duty, and that was when a member trifled with a question to seo that the rules of tho House were carried out in a right and proper way. He had given his ruling, and asked tho member to keep to it, but the member had been trying to evade it for a long time. Tho Alyiistor of Lands said ho had sent for the Prime Minister, who was not m the House at the moment, and it would he for ono of them to movo that steps be taken. Mr Speaker gave Air Al’Combs another opportunity to withdraw the accusation of unfairness. It was wrong for him to malic such a suggestion ana was contrary to fact. Air AT Combs: “I am very sorry to disagree so pronouncedly (interruption) as I did on that occasion, and it seems t ,° b ,°, tllc '"■’sh °T mv friends that I should withdraw tho words,” The member then went on with his speech, but the Minister of Lands laised a point of order to tho effect that the withdrawal was not adequate. Air Isitt; “ Sir, I think it is entirely within your province to accept or reject tho hon. member’s withdrawal, and I think it hardly generous of a Aliuister, when a matter which occurred in tho heat of the moment | has blown over, to reopen the question. Perhaps the withdrawal might have been more generous, but you. sir, were gracious enough to accept it.” Sir Frederick Lang; “I understand that the hon. member unreservedly withdrew.” Air Al’Comhs: “ Yes, that is so. 1 prefaced my remarks by ” bir hrederick Lang: “I cannot allow tlie hon. member to enlarge upon it. Ho must go on with his speech, and keep to tlie point. Tho incident then closed. FRAYED FEELINGS. ■Some three hours later, in committee about (3.30 n.m., feelings became flayed again. Air Isitt was speaking amid considerable interruption when ho cried: “I hear the guffaws of a man in my roar (turning to Air Al’Callum) who Ims more voice than brains.” Again there was interruption, during which the member for Christchurch North was heard to refer to “ the hon. gentleman who lacks any moral sense.” Air Hockly: “Is it competent for a member to say anrtSlier mOjinljer is lacking of moral sense?” Air M’Callmn: “It doesn’t matter. I take it as a high compliment from him— ’’ • The Chairman of Committees: “I must ask the lion, member to with, draw.” _ Air Isitt; “I am prepared to withdraw.” Air Al’Callnm; “ Apologise at tho same time.” The Chairman of Committees: “ Order, order.” ALL NIGHT ON THE GAMING BILL. Monday night usually sees a. very thin House, but last night the benches wore well filled. Tlie reason was to bo found in tho Gaming Amendment Bill (No. 2), brought down by Air Hunter (Waipawa), in tho hope of securing Parliament’s authority for tho issuing of permits for thirty-eight more rats ing days each year. "Tho net result of the sitting seems to have been a, clear intimation that if this Bill is to pass, it will be necessary to issue permits to carry Parliament through many extra hours. Air Hunter was brief in his remarks, but his example was not followed generally. Tho Bill found a number of supporters, not a. few tor tho reason that some members looked upon it as tho only means of getting the extra clay required for their districts, but there was a very strong opposition who gavq just as much attention to Air Al’Callum as he expected, when ho suggested, tho mover of the second reading Bat down: “Now let’s take it on the voices.” During the evening it was discovered that on principle Air Edie (Bruco) would not give two men who asked him a lift to the races in Ins motor and that AIT Powdrell (Patea) was a jockey in times gone by. ~l n the earlier stages of the debate all the opponents of the Bill spoke Ireeiy, but later onj, from about 4 a.m. onwards, most of tho active work was loft to Alessrs Isitt, J. R. Hamilton and ArCombe, with Air Jones and A. Hamilton giving aid 1 on occasions. Mr J. R. Hamilton proved particularly adept at keeping within the rullngs of the Speaker and the Chairman of Committees as to repetition, etc. but Air Al’Combs was not so fortunate! When the supporters of the Bill refused to consider any question of adjournment, its opponents drew liberally upon the list of amendments, but they were obviously pleased when the Chairman of Committees announced at /.30 a.m., tho House by this time ■having reached the committee' stage, that the breakfast adjournment would