SLIPSHOD MINISTERIAL METHODS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 4

SLIPSHOD MINISTERIAL METHODS.

CRITICISM ANGRILY RESENTED. Parliament of late, years'has occasional* ly got into a rather slipshod way of doing its business. An instance of this occuiTed last qvening, when tho Christchurch District Drainngo Amendment Bill camo up. Mr. Buddo, who hod c'hargo of tho Bill, was proceeding to movo its' second reading, wlicn Mr. Jas. Allen asked if tho Bill was not a local Bill. Mr. Buddo argued that it was a public Bill. Mr. Speaker, however, overruled this contention. Mr. Buddo then moved that the Standing Orders be suspended, so that tho Bill might be allowed to proceed. Tho local bodies, ho said, wore agreed about tho Bill. Mr. Allen said Mr. Buddo was not taking up a fair position because all such Bills should bo advertised, eo that Iho public might know all about them. Mr. Buddo said tho position of tho Bill might lw taken to be a reflection upon himself. He thought the Bill should bo allowed to proceed as all tho local bodies wero agreed upon it. Mr. Hurries said this was the second lime Mr. Buddo had had a BiH thrown out by tho Speaker's decision, and now ho had again to ask tho indulgence of tho House to let his Bill proceed. Even a tyro in politics should luiow that this was a local Bill. It was a case either of carelessness or ignorance on tho part of tho Minister. They wero being continually asked to cover up tho carelessness of tho Ministry. In the old days it was not liko that. They had to know tho Standing Orders. Now tho Ministry did not caro anything about tho Standing Orders or tho forms of the Houso. They covered up their want of knowledge by asking that I hey bo suspended. Sir Jos. AVard complained of the peevishness, tho pettiness, and the smallnoss of the member for Bruce in objecting to this Bill. It was 100 silly for words to sit in the House aud listen to Allen and Hemes. It gavo an indication of tho incapacity of tho hon. gentlemen. (Laughter.) Mr. Allen: Tho incapacity is on your side. Sir Joseph Ward said tho member for Bruce had taken exception te a oourso which was taken time after time 60 that what was, after all, a semi-public Bill could go through. Then his coadjutor, tho hon. member for Tauranga— Mr. Horries: Knocks you out overy time! Tho Prime Minister declared that Mr. Iterries had endorsed the small and petty views expressed by the hon. member for Bruce. This measure was the outcome of a Royal Commission's report, which had been published in all tho papers. It was nlmost too silly for words te sit in tho House and listen te these hon. gentlemen. They and tln\;r party were incapable of anvthing more useful than fault-finding. The whole combination had been responsible for one constructive effort during about 20 years. M>r. Dive: And now it is in the Budgot. The Prime Minister: I was under tho impression that they did not read tho Budget. You have iva<l it? Mr. Hcrrics: And found faults in it, tool Th eStanding Orders were fmspended, and tho Bill read a pocond time.