POLITICAL DEADLOCK.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 6

POLITICAL DEADLOCK.

" CUTTING THE GORDIAN

KNOT."

DISSOLUTION IN THE AIR,

"RED FED." TACTICS. (special to "ttte .press. s ') WELLINGTON, November 24. Prior to tho House meeting to-day thero was a great deal of speculation! as to what was likely to happen in regard to tho stonewall on the proposal, to repeal tho second ballot, and the possibilities of an appeal to the electors in the event of tho obstruction not being discontinued wero . discussed In the lobbies with considerable interest.

The position from the Government point of view was stated by one prora- ] mont member of tho Party as follows: —"Tho Government has' no intention - to exercise harsh or repressive powers. ". and _is prepared to extend to the Opposition the full limit of reasonable ; rights. When that limit is ex-,. v cooded, as it promises soon to bo, » '. determined stand will bo taken by tho ' J Government to end the hopeless waste' . J of timo. If it be proved that ordin- \ ary powers aro insufficient, the final, \l solution may bo placed in tho hands of )j tho electors." j

Another member of the Party _ummed up the situation as follows: — "Tho Standing Orders are designed for tho effective and proper carrying on of tho businoss of Parliament, and to that extent they enable the Opposition to give full expression to their views, oven to the extent, of a degree of loquacity which may in time attain to the measure of a stonewall." "But," he added, "the Standing Orders are also designed to enablo business to he , done, and when tho Opposition had extended to it reasonably sufficient opportunity for expression of dissent, _ it is only reasonable that the Standing Orders should be interpreted ia their true sense." The developments m the House tbis afternoon and evening show that the powers existing under tho Standing Orders are more effective than was generally supposed. The "Evening Post" compares the tactics of the Opposition to tlie strike - policy of the Federation of labour. It save; "The determination that Parliamentary business Bhall not proceed at all if it does not proc*-} to their liking, is a point on which tit* Liberals ceem to be following P"?"* closely the methods which tho Federa- . tion of Labour is endeavouring to ap- - ply to the industrial business of tw country. The design of tho Federation of Labour is being thwarted by an irresistible assertion of power on the part of tho State. At all the principal ports tho Strike Committees had their little day, their brief term of unlawful but unchallenged authority. Then the State mustered its forces and nut down what was essentially a rebellion with a strong hand. Must not this analogy also bo extended to tho protection, of Parliament against the power whicl;i a minority .has usurped of blacking public business?"