The Dominion THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1913. OBSTRUCTION IN PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1911, 20 November 1913, Page 6

The Dominion THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1913. OBSTRUCTION IN PARLIAMENT

The irresponsible and futile tactics of Sir Joseph Ward and his followers in the House of Representatives during the present session show plainly enough that they havo completely lost sight of the fact that members of a Parliamentary Opposias well as those who sit on the Ministerial side of the House, are elected for the purpose of transact* ing the business of the country. It is of course their privilege to criticise the proposals of the Government, and to vote against measures that are not, in their opinion, in the beat interests of the Dominion; but there is a great difference between legitimate opposition and deliberate and persistent obstruction. The people of New Zealand are well aware of this difference, and if the Anti-Beform party in Parliament wilfully and persistently refuse to seo it, the electors will no doubt make a note of the most conspicuous offenders with a view to replacing them by representatives with a : . greater sense of responsibility when the next general election comes round. Almost from the very beginning of the session there has been a systematic attempt on the part of Opposition members to waste as much time as possible. In nearly every instance the excuse given has been of the most flimsy and insincere character, and time and again Opposition members have voted in favour of* the very Bills they have obstructed in every possible way. Such tactics prove convincingly that they have not been fighting for 'principles, but have been- actuated by a determination to • embarras the Government as id itch as possible, and to block all . legislation, no matter how necessary it may be for the good government and well-being of the people. These obstructive methods do not even possess the merit of being clover, for by making an unreasonable and improper use of the forms of Parliament, a handful' of members with glib tongues can hold up the business of the House for it very considerable period. Legitimate' criticism requires f the exercise of careful, thought iinrl study. ivHiio nl( \h»l in . • necessary for the obstruction of busi4

ncss is a maximum of volubility with a minimum of thought.

All through the session the time of Parliament has been systematically wasted, and periodically an acute stage of commonly known as a stonewall, is reached. This means a> complete stoppage of business, such as that which is now . taking place over the proposal of the Government to repeal tho iniquitous Second Ballot Aet. There can be no doubt that the general public are thoroughly disgusted with this method of election, owing to the crop of evils which it has produced, such as the prolonged unsottlcmc&t duo to the two ballots, intriguing, hypocrisy, and political bargaining; and its crowning demerit is that it does not, after all, effect the purpose for .which it was brought into operation.. Real majority representation cannot be secured by .compelling tho Supporters of the candidates who fail to get into the second ballot to vote for one of two other candidates, in neither of whom they may have confidence. If the Bill to repeal the second ballot had been introduced at the beginning of the session it would probably have been allowed to pass without much discussion, for many members on both sides of the House had expressed themselves itl favour of such a measure; but the defeat of the Ecform candidate at the Grey election by the alliance- between the anti-Reformers with the Bed Federation appears to have led Snt. Joseph WAEnand his followers to hope that a similar alliance in the future might produce similar results in other electorates; and this accounts for the fact that the Opposition is doing its utmost to prevent the Bill ;from passing. It is not with them a question of principle at all. The Anti-Reforntefcs and their leader care nothing for' the wishes of the people in this matter. They are fighting the Bill so desperately because they think that if it- passes their chances of political bargaining and intriguing at election time will be lessened.