POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2282, 29 August 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[Special to “Times.”] ALL-NIGHT SITTINGS.

HOW PARLIAMENT DOES ITS

BUSINESS

WELLINGTON, August 28, The trial of that time-honored institution “Legislation by Exhaustion” still bangs heavily over our system of Parliameutry procedure. The first all-night sitting of the session .took place on Thursday night, when tho Estimates wore under discussion. At one o’clock Mr. Massey made his final protest ugainst the continuation of tho sitting, but his motion to report progress was lost by 30 to 11. The estimates of one of the most, if not tho most, important Department, viz. the Eduoation Department wore then taken. The House was thin and sleepy, and from 40 members present the number dwindled down to about twenty, a baro quorum. Some of these were only half awake, and the fact that many were not fast asleep was doubtless due only to tho fact that the chairs of the present House are not so comfortable as the upholstered benches of the late Chamber. Under such circumstances is the business of the country conducted. The only incident of note in the proceedings was tho success of Mr Wilford in carrying a proposition to reduce tho vote by £l, as an indication that school books should bo provided free of charge to the pupils. The motion was carried by 22 votes to 16 (lobbies yielding up their quota of members), and it was mentioned as a coincidence that on the same date last year a similar motion was carried, also on tlie motion of the member for Hutt. It was a tired and weary score of legislators who filed silently out of the chamber, when the last vote in tho class was passed just on the stroko of five o’clock.

AN ABSENT MEMBER. COLLEAGUE’S REBUKE. For the greater part of last session the member for the Western Maori district (Mr Ilenaro Kaihau) was absent from liis place in the House, and so far as the present session is concerned he lias not yet deigned to honor the Chamber with liis presence. His neglect of his Parliamentary duties drew a sharp rebuke from a fellow Native member (Mr. P.arata). In speaking on a ' Native Bill wnich dealt with land in Mr Kailiau’s district, Mr Par.ata commented on the long absence of the member- for,the Western District. “1 and other members,” he added “are here every day attending to the business of the Dominion, and looking after tlio interests of the Maori race, but I wish to draw the attention of the House and country to the fact that whilst the lion, member for the Western Maori district was returned to look after tho interests of his constituents lie is continually staying away and neglecting liis duty. This lias been going oil for years. If I was absent for a week or a fortnight my constitutents would call my attention constituents would oall my attention the lion, member was not present he was drawing his honorarium. “It is time, lie said, “that the House paid attention to the lion, member’s neglect of duty.”

WANTED—A GOVERNMENT BILLET. LETTER FROM A LABOR CANDIDATE. In the House yesterday afternoon the member for Rangitikei (Mr Remington) brought a matter up which lie thought was a breach of privilege. He had received a letter from Wanganui dated August 20, 1908. It was as folmws: “Mr A. E. Remington. Dear Sir,—l have just returned to Wanganui from Wellington, whore I liad been to see you in reference to getting an appointment out of the Government. I would be willing to withdraw my candidature for Rangitikci m favor of you, should you be successful in securing mo a permanent appointment, and I will use my influence to further vour candidature as member for Rangitikei. I would prefer a billet in the Wanganui distr’et. Yours truly, It. N. Johnston.” Mr Remington proceeded to say that he had brought tlio matter up because be thought it an insult that a man who had announced himself as a Labor candidate should have sent a letter such as this. It was an insult to himself and every member of , e House. If the Labor candidates—he did not wish liis Labor colleagues in the House to take umbrage—were going to act in this way it was a scandalous state of things. Mr Remington walked up to the Speaker, handed him tlio letter, and asked was it not a breach of privilege. A member: “Ho does not say wliat screw he wants.”

The Speaker: ‘lt does not constitute a breach of rules of tho House, hut without expressing a definite opinion it strikes me as a breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act relat,rlK t° bribery and corruption.” the Premier suggested to Mr Remington that after lie- had had further experience- in these matters, he would realise that the best thing to do was to ‘chuck such a letter in the fire.” When tho Second Ballot Bill was passe i wo1 ! ld relieve members from such obnoxious experiences. Mr Massey: “When will that he?” Tho Premier: “This session. Don’t you make any mistake about that (laughter) .”

DECAY OF TEETH. AN'INFECTIOUS DISEASE'. Dr. Chappie, in the House to-night, .explained the reason why so many New Zealand children need to have sets of false teeth. It was, he said, because caries was ail infectious disease. It spread from one to the other bv contagion, and from one individual .to the other by contagion. Kissing by children was one cause of its spread. “What about kissing by tlie fullgrown ones?” interjected Mr. Wilford, hut Dr. Chappie ignored this aspect of the question.