A COMPROMISE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1880, 14 October 1913, Page 4

A COMPROMISE.

AFTER THE LEADERS PARLEY.

MORE ABOUT OBSTRUCTION.

Sir Joseph Ward then asked the Prime Ministof what course ho proposed to follow in connection with the Land Bill.;. How far did he intend to proceed ? Did lie intend to put the whole Bill through at one sitting? The honourable; member had said there had been obstruction...-, to. the Bill, but the obstruction had not been to the Land Bill. ' . The obstruction—if it could bo so termed—was in consequence of a clauso that had since been - ruled out of ■order by tho Speaker to which very strong exception was taken by a number of honourable gentleipen. After reviewing the position shortly, Sir Joseph Ward said he wanted to ask the Prime Minister now if it was his intention to put this' Bill through at one sitting, because one .Minister had publicly declared that that was to be done. Ho (Sir Joseph Ward) felt that that was an unreasonable course to pursue. He did not wish to raise any issue then that would cause any friction, but thoy were' not prepared to sit and bo told to put the wholo Bill through at one sitting. It was only right to tell tho Prime Minister that. A Threat of "Resistance." It would be absolutely unreasonable and without precedent, in his opinion, for a majority to force a minority to put tho Bill through in this way. There was only one alterriative to that, and the responsibility would bo upon those who forced that course. They did not want to delay the passage of tho Land Bill. At this declaration tho Minister of Railways laughed heartily. Sir Joseph Ward declared that he was trying to suggest a course that would help this Bill. If tho Minister of Railways thought hy laughing at him he would cause tho Opposition to bo laughed at ho was making a very groat mistake. Sir Joseph Ward added that they had no right to interfere with the other side, but thoy had a right to protect thomselvos and had a right to ask the Prime Minister what courso he proposed to follow in order to assist the passage of tho Bill. Co on For a Month? So far as putting it through at one sitting was concerned tho Opposition would not only be not agreeable to that

ibut would resist it at the very start because it was not ft fair proposal to make. It would be the easiest tiling in the world to keep this Bill going for the rest of the month if they wanted i to. Mr. Nosworthy: What would you bo like at tlie end of the month? Mr. Ell: What would you bo like? Sir Joseph Ward: I nin not suggesting that we will do it. I am only pointing out that it would bo the easiest thing -in the world to do it. Wo only want a reasonable business arrangement. We do riot want to be merely told that if reasonable progress is made an adjournment will be agreed to. My opinion is that no attempt should bo made to put tho Bill through in less than four sittings. Mr. Hine (Stratford): You expressed yourself agrefcablo to put through forty clauses I Sir Joseph Ward: I do not understand what you are speaking about. It is j only reasonable to ask that a rising ! time should be fixed on the understanding that there is to bo no obstruction. Every member of the Houso had a right to discuss any clause, to move an amendment or to call for a division on any clause. To bo . told, as had been publicly stated by one Minister, that tho whole Bill was to be put through Committee at one sitting, was quito unreasonable. He suggested that the House should rise at midnight. !A Government member: How far will you go ? Sir Joseph Ward: As far as wo reasonably can. We do not want to obstruct the Land Bill, and we have not done so. (Laughter from Government members.) It was unreasonable that tho Crown should give the right of the freehold to tho holders of ono class of pastoral licenses to the exclusion of all others.