The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1913. DELIBERATE OBSTRUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1855, 15 September 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1913. DELIBERATE OBSTRUCTION.

The Opposition have made a very bad beginning under their new leader, and between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening cost the country a pretty penny with _ their wilful and deliberate obstruction of the business of It has been plain for some little time past that the anti-Reform element, in the House of Representatives is much concerned over the expeditious manner in which the Government have been giving legislative effect to a constructive policy on liberal and progressive lines. The Reform party nas been steadily and unostentatiously converting its_ promises into performances, and it has unfortunately happened for the Opposition that with all the will in the world to hinder and embarrass the Government they have been quitounahle to find any cause for obstruction in the measures introduced by Ministers. It is a quite-remarkable tribute to the popularity of the legislative proposals of the Government that even the most unoompromising anti-Iteform-ors have been compelled in the great majority of cases to give them their votes and support. They have not done so with a very fjood grace, it is true, but their hostility when-they dared to show it has generally, been of a veiled and apologetic .character, and tempered by the knowledge that the Government's policy measures have the support of the great mass of the peoplo. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Opposition should feel that something must be done to prevent the Government from placing .their measures on the Statute Book, and thus convincing the country by their actual legislative achievements that they are worthy of oontinued and extended confidence. Not daring openly to attack the Reform policy Bills, the Opposition have apparently determined to block the path of legislation by prolonged and persistent obstruction on the Estimates. On no other possible ground can tho shameful waste of time which occurred in the House of Representatives between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening bo accounted for. We do not propose to go into tho_ details of the unedifying proceedings which culminated in the Chairman of Committees leaving the chair just on the stroke of midnight on Saturday night, but it should bo mentioned that from about 3.30 o'clock on Saturday morning the Opposition deliberately set themselves out to prevent any business being done. Up to that hour very little progress had been made, but thereafter nearly 20 hours were absolutely wasted in talking against time. After they had blocked business for a considerable period the Opposition, seeking an excuse, made complaint that certain Departmental reports had not been supplied, more especially that relating to the mental hospitals of the Dominion—that being _ tho particular section of tho Estimates before tho, House at tho time. It was, of course, a flimsy pretext, for it had been made apparent long before this was thought of that business was to be blocked, and every shred of sincerity'was torn from it by the simple fact that tho obstruction continued unabated after proof copies of the report were produced from tho Printing Office, and thus made available to any member -who was particularly interested in its contents. _ All pretence of legitimate criticism was abandoned, and, Mr. Mas'sey was compelled to recognise that ho had to deal with a deliberately-organised attempt to prevent any_ progress be-, ing made with his Estimates. \ Probably the Opposition were calculating on the leniency and good nature which the Prime Minister has shown during the session in the matter of the hours of sitting of the House. He has met his opponents in a very generous spirit, and particularly in connection with the con--sideration of the Estimates. He mado it clear, however, on Saturday evening that there is a limit to his good nature, and that that limit is reached when ho is faced with a deliberately-planned attempt to "hold up" the business of the House. The Opposition, when they threatened that they would obstruct until midnight on Saturday, deceived themselves if they thought the Government was to be intimidated by such threats, and they must now face the' consequences of their action. The responsibility must rest on those who, without any regard for the public interest, think they can injure the Government and further party ends by blocking business with an avalanche of meaningless talk. Mb. Massey will have to meet such tactics with firmness and determination, and press on resolutely with his programme. He has some very important measures to put through this session, and although spme good work has already been accomplished a great deal still remains to be done. If tho Opposition deliberately make usa of taa forms of' Parliament to

prevent the business i of Parliament being done, then it Lecomes the duty of the Pkhik Minister to take the most effective measures at his command to ensure the passing of whatever legislation he may consider necessary for the good government of the Dominion, even though ho keeps members here for another six months. The anti-Reformers really care vory little about tho items on the Estimates which they have been blocking at such enormous length. They simply want to make tho session as barren as possible, and are making use of the Estimates to waste time in an endeavour to serve their purpose.