MAMA GOLD'S LAW PASSES SECOND READING AMID SINGING

The Coop Assembly on Thursday passed the second reading of the Senior Hen Retirement Protection Act, known to every citizen as Mama Gold's Law, guaranteeing retired layers shade, priority at the trough, and freedom from sudden committee membership.

Debate was brief, which is unusual, and unanimous, which is unprecedented. The Leader of the Opposition rose to oppose 'on principle, the principle being that we oppose,' reviewed the bill's arithmetic, found it correct, and sat down again, visibly annoyed at having nothing to add.

Proceedings were then suspended when the public gallery, led, witnesses insist, by the Vice President, who denies it while beaming, began the old shade-tree song. The Speaker ruled the singing out of order, was ignored, and was later observed conducting.

Mama Gold, the law's namesake, followed events from the low branch of the mango tree. Her statement: 'The first reading was harder.'