A MINISTER IN A DIFFICULTY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12824, 16 October 1911, Page 7

A MINISTER IN A DIFFICULTY.

NEARLY LOSES HIS BILL

SUSPENSION OF THE STANDING ORDERS.

(By Telegraph.—From Our Own Parlia-

mentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, October 13. Parliament of late years has occasionally got into a rather slip shod way of doing its business. An instance of this occurred in the House of Representatives this evening when the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill came up. The Hon. D. Buddo, who had charge of the Bill, was proceeding to move its second reading,-when Mr. Jas. Allen asked if the Bill was not a local «"!• Mr. Buddo argued that it was a public BilJ. Mi-. Speaker, however, ruled his contention. Mr. Buddo then moved that the standing orders be suspended in order to allow the Bill to proceed. Ho said all the local bodies were agreed as to the Bill which was the result of a commission that took evidence.-

Mr. Allen said the position taken up was not a fair one because such Bills shouJd be advertised so that the public should know nil about them. Mr. Buddo said the position of the Bill might be taken to be a reflection upon himself. : Ho thought the Bill should be allowed to proceed as all the local bodies were agreed upon it. M.-. Herries said this was the second time Mr. Buddo had had a Bill thrown out by tho Speaker's decision and now Tio had again to ask the indulgence of the House to let his Bill proceed. Even a tyio in politics should know that this was a local Bill It was a case eithoi- of carelessness or ignorance on tho part of the Minister. They were l:eing continually asked to cover up tho carelessness of the Ministry. In tho olrl -lays it was not like that. They had to know the standing orders. Now the Ministry did not care anything about tho standing orders or the forms of the House. They covered up their nant of knowledge by asking that they be suspended.

Siv Joseph Ward complained of the peevishness, the pettiness and the smallness of the member for Bruce in objecting in this Bill. It was too silly for words to sit in the House and listen to Messrs Allen and Herries. It gave an indication of the incapacity of those gentlemen (Laughter.) ■M«\ Allen.—The incapacity is on your s?do.

Aftor some further talk, the House permittee! '.the. standing orders to be suspended and tho Bill was read a second time