POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2251, 24 July 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[Special to “Times.”] : WELLINGTON, July 22. • 1 ' THE WARD CIGAR. The latest thing in Bellamy’s 16 the Ward cigar, made in Hamburg by Carl Jul Klein. Mr Hardy, the member for Selwyn, caused 60ine amusement during his speech in tlie house this evening by : producing two of the boxes, • which have a very excellent portrait of Sir Joseph Ward pasted on the inside of the lid. Under the portrait is pasted the legend “made in • Hamburg”,., but the empty box procured by Mr Hardy from the custodian of 'Bellamy’s had a piece of white paper pasted over those words. Mr Hardy, however, had procured a. full box “over the bar.”-with the legend unobliterated, and he caused much amusement by displaying both boxes to ill© astonished gazes of his brother M-P.’s in the Hotiso. Of course, said Mr Hardy, the statement that the Premier was made in Hamburg is-not correct, because the Premier was a half-bred Irishman like himself (loud laughter). The prei sence of the words “made in Hamburg” was, ho said, due to a law of which the Premier approved, but here in New Zealand it appeared we were -ashamed of importing things -from Germany and pasted something over the label. The Premier laughingly interjected that lie was not responsible for the. importation of the cigars. Mr Hardy said lie .knew Sir Joseph was not responsible. He, MiHardy, as one of the House Committee, was responsible, but he knew nothing about it and would have to make further inquiry. A PAROCHIAL PARLIAMENT. The depths of parochialism to which the Dominion Parliament has fallen are well illustrated by the following question and answer on to-day’s supplemental'}’ order paper: “Mr Witty to ask the Minister for Railways whether he will have broken metal put on the new siding at Addington and iiave the same blinded with clay and then well rolled ? Note: Owing to the presence of so much loose shingle it is next to impossible to remove a heavy load from the siding.” Reply: —“The road -approaches to tlfo new siding at Addington are now being attended to.” The question is on a par with many others that are asked dealing with matters that should be settled by a subordinate departinenfijl officer.