SECOND BALLOT TEST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 10

SECOND BALLOT TEST.

OBSTRUCTION AGAE THE SESSION'S PROGRAMME OUTkINEft MR. T. M, WItFORD R6BUKED. „ £J ,e H ™ ,s <> rait Htto Committee at n-1, P'',".' , on *V Legislature Amendment am, which provides simply for the appointment of a Deputy Clerk of Parliament. Mr. H G. Ell asked the Piimo Minister whether'he would be willing to accept an amendment to the Legislature Ast to alter the country quota so far as it affected the suburban papulation round several of tlto secondary towns, plating these districts, on tho same footing as the districts surrounding the principal cities. It.was absurd, he contended, to add 28 per cent,, to tho actual population in such places as these for the purposes of allotting .the representation, tor it could Hot bo contended that in those districts people were under any of the disabilities under which country people were supposed to bo. They' were Hot, therefore, entitled to tho advantage of' tile country Quota. Tho Hon.-5\ M. B. Fisher, who was in charge of the Bill, said that when the proper time came for the amendment to bo moved he would not be able to acet>Dt it.

A Pregnant Question. The Hon. A. T. Ngat-a wished to know whether it was tits Minister's intention to move at the appropriate place an amendment to repeal the Second Ballot. Bill. He wished to have the Minister's assurance that this would not be done. Mr. Fisher did Hot reply at once, and Mr. Ngata, Mr. Witty, and others charged the Prime Minister and tlio members of the Government generally with refusing to take the House into their confidence. Sir Joseph Ward said there was a feeling that some unusual, course was to be followed in coiuleotion with the pro-* posal to repeal the Second Ballot Act. It would bo a fair thing for tic Prime Minister to tell the House whether the question would really be decided upon the Second Ballot Repeal Bill or not. It was said freely that instead of having the test on the Second Ballot Repeal Bill, some political trick would' bo played on the- House, and a Government that would hold office by a trick did not deserve to liold office for one hour. And the Government had ■no right to withhold from the House information as to what business the House ! was to be asked. to put through this session. As soon as the- announcementwas made the Opposition would tell ' the Prime Minister what measures they were prepared to assist the Government to put through.

GOVERNMENT PRQQftAMME OUTLINED. Tho Hon. W. F. Maisgy proceeded to take the Opposition into his confidence, saying that the reason why ho had not doj-ie so before was because of the delay and obstruction that had taken place, Ho need only remind honourable members of what took place the preceding night, when there had been four hours of tho most useless obstruction. On. last Friday night;, also, the House hail done nothing because of the obstruction from the other side. The Second Ballot llepeal Bill, too, was obstructed right from the motion for leave to introduce it until 12.30 at night, when it .was not possible for tho Gov eminent to go oft with any other business* Such obstruction was without parallel in the history of the New Zealand Parliament,

Opposition members: No, no. Mr. Mftssey: I have been here nineteen years and,it has never been done before in my time. If that frag not deliberate obstruction I have never seen it. He continued to say that if tho Government had been treated properly by tho Opposition he would have madV his announcement as to the business of the session two or three- Weeks ago. The Government were doing on with the Bill before the House, and they were going to make the Bill a test on the Second Ballot proposal. (Cries of "Oh.") Tlk) Government were going on also with tire Education Amendment Bill, the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill,, and the Railways Construction - and Land Amendment Bill. He hoped to go on with tho Workers 1 • Compensation Amendment Bill, but he was advised by tho Crown Law officers that tho amendments made in the Bill by tho Labour Bills Committee would necessitate having the Bill redrafted. Ho hoped, however, to be- able to go on with tho Bill. Tho Government would go oil ' with the. Native Laud Laws Amendment Bill, the Education Reserves Amendment Bill, the Distress and Retention Amendment Bill,' and the Temporary Employees Bill. The Second Ballot Bill would not bo necessary after that night. The Rangiora Drill Shed Bill and the Victoria College Amendment Bill would proeeed. The Defamation Bill and the Cook Islands Gov-ernmeat- Afiie-ndmeivb Bill would be dropped. Regarding the Shops and Offices Bill, he hoped to take oat the more important part of the Bill and submit it as a short Bill by itself. Ho-was trying to do exactly tho same thing with the Arbitration Bill, now before the Labour Bills Committee. There would be a Customs Law Consolidating Bill, but lie wanted members to recognise that this was not a Bill to amend the tariff. Tho Rating Bill, iu charge of Mr. Herrics, would bo gone on with. The West Coast Settlement Bill, a short Bill to which lift, exception would bo taken, would be introduced and proceeded with. There was also tho Naval Bill, in charge of the Minister.of Defence, which would'go through.' Ho could not speak positively of tho Licensing Bill at- the present moment. It had been' the intention of the Government to give the Hww ail opportunity of dealing with a Licensing Bill, but there had been so much delay that he could not sny anything definite ■ about it. He did not commit tho Government one way or tho other, but- if it did not, oomo this session it would come next year. The Counties Bill, which would also go through, was n mero technical Bill abrtut which there could he no serious difference of opinion. The Mining Bill wit.? now before tho Mines Cominii-teo. A Bill to be introduced was the Fruitgrowers' Assistance Bill, under which it. was proposed to find funds to the extent of £25,000 yearly for fruit-growers in need of cold storage for their pro-' ducts. Mr. WHford Interrupts,

Mr. Wiifoi'd: Would not that he- better iii efection year? Mr. Mftssey: We don't do business in that way. Tho honourable member is thinking of the old -days. Mr. Wilford; I know what yon are doing with the Advances .Office. Mr. Massey challenged. Mr. Wilford to prove any thing lie know, nnd depied that there Wits anything Wrong ill tho conduct of the office. Mr. "Wilford Mf Die lioisourable gentleman will sit down F. wilt tell him. Mr. Wilford rose- while Mr. Masso.y ir'maiufd stuhdiug. Tlto member for jSutt j«Sufted'bJ : 6,seat amid angry cries

of "Order!" and "Sit Down!" from I tho Government benches. • Mr. Malcolm rebuked members of tho Government side, for their disorderly behaviour in shouting "Order!" He also informed, the member tor Hutt that ho was oat of order in attempting to speak while any member of tho Mouse was speaking. Ho hoped tho mouther for Hutt would not again repeat tho attempt. Reported to Mr. Speaker. Mr. .Wilford made some remark thfft was inaudible in the Press Gallery. Mr. Malcolm: I distinctly heard . iho member for Hutt say, "What a lot of nonsense," I must ask tho honourable member to withdraw thoso words and apologise for having used them. Mr. Wilford: 1 decline to do either, Mr, Malcolm asked the clerk to noto tho words, and intimated that he would at onco send for Mr. Speaker. When Mr. Speaker took tho chair, Mr. Malcolm gave aft. account of what had occurred. Regarding the remarks of Mr. Wilford, which .gave riso to tho trouble, ,N Tho honourable member then said in tones that I could hear, 'What a lot of nonsense.* I asked him to withdraw and apologise, and ho said "I decline to do either. I then aksed that yon bo brought hore." Mr. Speaker: 1 understand the Chairman of Committees has reported the member for Hntt for disorderly conduct. I should life to know what tho member fd*r Hutt has to say, •

A Tardy Explanailoru Mr. Wilford: Tho remark was not addressed to the Chairman of Committees. It ivas addressed to Dr. Bangihiroa., and I Was referring to Mr. Mas* sey's speech. I said, "What nonsense he is talking." (Laughter from the Government benches.) _ Mr. Wilford went oil;to explain that in. view of this ho had declined to apologise. Dr. Eniigihiroa: With, regard to whatthe member for Hutt has just 'stated*, most -cortamly his face was'turned- -towards me, and I understood his ste* marks were addressed to roe, and not to the Chairman, That is how I took it. Mr. Malcolm' repeated that tho case' was exactly as he had $ta\ted it, and that the member for Hutt had not explained when given ail opportunity to do so. When asked to withdraw or apologise, he said, "I decline to do either." The Hon. P. M. B. Fisher: I wish to say that' I was sitting in the chair next to the Chairman of Committees, and I distinctly heard the remarks or. the member for Hutt. But they.followed tho direction of the Chairman of Committees and not Mr. jlassey's speech. Tho words were, "What a lot of nonsense," I heard the Words quite distinctly, and I think there were members on this side of the House who heard them as well.

A Misunderstanding, Sir Joseph Ward: May I suggest that, while the Chairman of Committees has done what he recognises as his duty, the honourable member for Hutt makes, a statement which is boiiio out by a fellow-member? Does it not inakoTt clear that there is a misunderstanding somewhere?- I suggest .that thef statement,of the hoiiourablo member for Hutt should, under the circum-E-tanceSj bo accepted. Tho Hon, w. ¥. Massoy: As Leader of the House I feel I should have something to .say about this.. But I was on my feet speaking, and. there was a good deal of noise at the time. law not in a position to corroborate or deny what has been put forward. ■'

"Word of Honour. 1 ' ■Mr. Speaker said tho question was : rather' a difficult one to rule upon.. His duty was to uphold tho position of Chairman, but when the honourable member denied having made the statement, the question was open to a certain amount of doubt. Mr. Wilford: I don't deny having mado the statement, but tlie words were, not addressed,' to tho Chairman of Committees. Mr. Speaker -. I think tho honourable momljC'V should havo at the time- mudo' an explanation to the 'Chairman ' of. Committees. I think that in this'respect he has not treated the Chairman with, tho respect that is .-due to him. If the noiiourabfe member .assures me on Ms word of honour that ho did not address the Chair— ; • Mr. Wiiford explained that ho had not.. .' . ~ • .' . Mr,. Speaker: I very much Regret that tho honourable member did not explain the circumstances to the Chairman. There seems to be doubt, aind as tho honourable ■■• member assures mo on his word of honour that lie did pot address the words to the Chairman;'that is not disrespect to the- Chair. Will the honourable gentleman assure mo of that? / ' Mr. Wilford: I havo never since I have been in tho House shown disrespect to the Chair,, . Mr, Speaker: Then I can only rule that there has been a mistake; But it is my duty always to uphold the position of the Chairman in every .possible way. I declare tho House in Committee again.

Business Again. Tho Bon. W. f. Massey returned to his statement of the Bills to go through this session. Thore would be, ho said, a little Bill dealing with the drainage* of one of the northern lakes.. It would ho a small technical BUI, 'embodying pre ■positls such as were generally included in tho AVashiUg*np Bill, hut the Government had deemed it wise to put them in a separate Bill. There Would be also a somewhat comprehensive Washing-up Bill this sessran, consisting of about 100 clauses, there would be a Bill dealing with hospitals, but only one clatee of it would be important. Ho did net say these Were tho only Bills to come forward, hut they were all ho could' announce then. Other urgent, matters might demand legislation. And. he had promised the member or Waipaiva an opportunity of moving the second reading of his Gaming Bill, and he <Mr. Massey) would have to keep- his word. There would also bo a Maori Washing-up Bill, In conclusion he said he had taken tire House into his confidence as far as it was possihlo for him to do so, and he would have, done it two weeks ago hut for events that had cropped up in the meantime. Sir Joseph Ward: Will there he an* ether.lmprest Bill? Mr, Massey: I don't see- how it can: be avoided. Ho suggested, that tho : Leader of the .Opposition 'having heard his statement would say what tile Opposition ifoilld d!o, and fob sincerely trusted that the hojiourablo gentleman would assist the Government in bringing the business of the country to a success- ■ ful conclusion,

Twerity-se.ven Bills. Sir Joseph Ward said lie did irot know whether the Prime minister 'realised what ho was asking tlio House to do at this late hour of tho session. Tho ■ honourable gs'ivtlenian had indicated twenty-seven Bills, without counting an Imprest Bill, and in that total was a Naval Bill, the intentfen of wlfich was us create a local navy in this'country. Mi', Massey: No: a training ship. Sir Joseph Ward: I know that tlio training ship is tho beginning of a local navy. __ ■ Mr. Massey: Let the honourable gentleman wait until ho sees the Bill, Sir Joseph .Ward insisted that the oi>position wore mot going to ho fooled' by what was in tlio Bill. Provision for a training ship was not all the policy of the Government.' Tiro Priiiic Jl.inMer had said also t'liatt tlio LeKlslatiiro Amendment Bill was tho Bill in which the Second Ballot Act was to be* repealed. M;\ Massoy: We'll take the test on that, Met by Similar Taoflcs. Sit Josenh Ward: Why Were we not, told that at first? *

Mr. Massfev: Owing to the Way yoit treated tiro -first Bill. 5 Sir Joseph Ward asked whether tins Prime Minister proposed to give an alternative to tho Second Ballot'. Mr. Massey: I will tell you that when you sit down. Sir Jo-sepl.t Ward referred to this allegations of obstruction. He excused tho Opposition for delaying tho progress' of tho Board of .Agriculture• Bill., which Was by no means unanimously applauded by the farmers. Ho asked again whether the Prime Minister thought it was fair to introduce tho Second Ballot Repeal in this way ? Mr. Massey: It is sis fair as the obstruction oh the' introduction of the Second Ballot Repeal Bill. A. party practising such tactics mllist bo met by similar tactics. Mr. Ell:'Is there to he a sflbstitu.toP Mr. Massoyi There will ho no substitute this session, Tho -House will bo given an .opportunity of dealing with an electoral Bill next;' session, and if a substitute is thought, [necessary it .can bo put in. He addi?J that neKt.sessioii. the Government would :ask Parliament for authority to build, a Bristol cruiser ■in Britain, but the Bill of tins session, simply provided for a, training ship.. Sir Joseph AVard suggested that the proper goutso for tho Government to fallow would have been to.defer the . repeal of tho Second Ballot until nextyear., when tho alternative proposal could bo considered. If the Prime Minister did this ho would save a verylonE time, for he would get all the rea.t of ' tho business through comparatively ■easily. As regard's ■ the Navs'l Bill.'lib was steongly opposed 4o tho establishment of a local navy in this country, Mr, Malcolm called the leader of ; tho Opposition, toorder, lor disewsaiftg. details of any of the. Bills chunieratcd. • Sir Joseph Ward: OK we)), I cair% ■go on-at, all It is. v.er.y unfair, all ;thc- -game. , ■ ■ . . , Mr. Malcolm then called again I*6 formula: "Glttu.se 1, short title.'.' .. Mr. Budao began to speak on the general question of electoral reform, and) ho asked why the Government were introducing tho Bill, Mr, Massey: The reason why wo are introducing • this. Bill is-that at last election the people- declared against it with no -uncertain soundi ■■ Mr. Malcolm, however, ■ would not allow the Prime Minister to proceed oli, these lines. small talk.

The Hoviso now settled down to a steady drift of meaningless talk. M*. S.'lWitty found, a surprising number of things to say about the clerks of Parliament. Mr, H. G. M followed with a proposal that tho representation quota' of twenty-eight per cent, should not apply to tho villages outside New 'Plymouth. ' 110 expressed a wan-dent hope that tho member for Taranak). | tilv. Okoy) would supports tho proposal, Mr. Qkey: Do you see anything fireett? , ....,.'..' ' Mr. J. V. Brown spo.ko plaintively

about the difficulty that a . .yquiig speaker found in talking about the Bill) under tho circumstances;, without getting off the track. Before long he was told bv the Chaijiiiah that ho would he ordered to discontinue, life speech if he did not get to tho subject. The stream of talk was carried on until 9.30 iwii..by .Mr. L, M. tatt and Sir Joseph 'Ward., The. latter waxed pathetic over the niiancfel. woes incidental to an income of £4.50 a year. He reiterated tho. .phrase £45.0 a year in a manner .reminiscent of Shylocks: "Ten. thousand ducats" One member advised him to "take more water with it," 'hut tho Chair-man 'apparently ok»not hpar,

Slow Drifting, 1 When the House .resumed at 10 p.m. less than thirty .members wf'ri ui their U places "aid many of tho who ■; had witnessed -the eai-lvor proceedings failed to' isappear. ... ■ Mv.'A. H. Biudiiiarsl). .intimated.that. ho would later on .move a short amend-, mont. Ho read the amfiftdrneivt and it. took Mm ten minutes to do it. It proposed that all trades unions and ns*o-. ciations■ spending money in connection, with Parliamentary elections Bhovild be ipquMcd to furnish returns, and that newspapers should be required to fuivnish returns of all electoral matter paid for, and that all political articles should bo signed. , , , Mr. J. Hanan spoke seriously about' •the merits of preferential Voting. Mr. T. M. Wilford intimated that one of tho .amendments ho intended to nioyo would propose that women should. bo admitted as members o.t tho Upper By il o'clock tho blockade baii beon definitely established, Both i-arties had arranged relays and nearly a 1 the members to»whom had been allotted' tho dut* of ''keeping a House"' were resting "'on their benches,. Speaking, or ■ course, was abandoned wholly to' tho Opposition. The attondaiioo of outsitfcKi had been reduced by this tiraO to about a dozen, and hi view of *& aul ness of ; 1-h.o speeches it was surprising that any audience remained at all.

A Suggested Remedy.' At 11.30 p.m. Mr. Wilftwd proposed that with a view to shortening the Parliamentary session, niters should, be paid £3.50 or £38.0 a year Histoid of ,£3OO, and niied £1 for every day on, which the House sat, Mr, Berries: There would bo no stonewalls then. , Mr. AViHord: No. because all the other members Would kill. the member who attempted to obstruct. , Midnight found the situation un> Changed? s.avo that a number of add> tions hal been made to tho list of mora Or less frivolous amendments, of. wlnctt the Opposition members had given w> tice. At 0.6 a-m,.* Mr )\ijfoid i£ atigurated a new lino of policy, .lie railed ft Sulcus point of M-r, Buddo, and as soo.u as tho Chairman had ruled, moved that progress should bo reported in order to take tho Speaker's ruling, and called for a division! While .the voto 9j wore being counted, Mr. Isitt pointed out that the name of Dr. romWfi, who was slccpmj; upon his bench, appeared oil tho division list. Tho motion was nogattved.by i) 3 votes to 18. At 0.20 a.m. Mr, Gilford again moved to take- the Speaker'a ruling, and, as before., called for a division ... A Point Scored.

At. 0.50 a.m. Mr* P. H, Gutlwio (Chief Government Whip) moved to de* lots tho word "Act" from tho short titlfl, with a view to instituting, other wounds, Mr. E. Polalid ■ immediately claimed that .ho had a prior amendment, and moved to delete the word "this." So confessed that lie-could not think of a better Word at tho moment. Mr. &»thne i» doiibt bad gained his point, far .it i* m«.c'.h move difficult to maintain obstruction in talking aW^ less amendment than W ta«j™S "Mi the. wide -latitat allowed when the short titlo of a Bill is tahtt Following necessary to W* ?«,ty," %£?»* swetivc merits d "this' ami that. Be th. kirn reigned ffl tlio House at V3o■v m OifW about balf-a-dozen mem- & *atW w» '«'* siiwcs C! " no from a larger wiislot who ivcrc rceumj Uen* on their bejishas Tlivs peaceful condition tfas rttWS by tho .Opposition. Mr. Fifrbe-s called aUgntiotti to "the state of the House,- and sleepers had to be awakened, in order that tiioy niii'lit tltro-w- up a hawl to :pro.vc their presence to the C.hn.irmjj.n-. i'iVii iwuuWs later Mr, Njjat'n called i'l> tofltion to tlio state- of the .Bo'uso, aiid sleepers had to ..bb again St"ir.i*d up. On. each occasion the Ohffirmai'i' '.found that a (iii«i'uni >vas present. Tho :niijiibe,r of Oppositionists in tho Hwi.sk .at tlio timo was five.. The state of affairs .w.ts.. ; .Uiioli.aiig'ed when fnr. Dominion we'irt Jo press. "Tbis" Wtls styi tho topic;'b|'discission:,-