PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1911, 20 November 1913, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

ALL-NIGHT SITTING, OBSTRUCTING ELECTORAL REFORM. AN UNFORESEEN, TRUCE. After Tin; DoMiNioK went to press yesterday morning the Opposition continued to block the short title of the Legislature Amendment Bill a<s a protest against the Government's electoral reform proposals. The present session has witnessed many dull sittings, hut Yesterday morning's Was at least as dull as any that have'preceded it. The sole topic' of "discussion" for over live hours wasj the word "this," which Mr. H. Poland had moved to delete from the short title of tho Bill. Besides persisting in tho meaningless talk thus involved,, the Opposition pursued a policy of irritation all through tho night by repeatedly calling attention to "the state of the House," so that members sleeping on the benches had to be awakened in order that they might become visible to tho Chairman, and be counted in the quorum. Tho duties of Chairman were relegated from midnight onwards to two deputies, Messrs. W. H. D. 801 l and J. B. Hiue. Both chairmen found it necessary to repeatedly cautioir the little band of seven or eight Oppositionists who kept tho talk going for "tedious repetition," and Mr. Hine finally ordered several of them in succession to discontinue their speeches. A division was taken on the so-called amendment at 5.3 a.m., and it was. negatived by g" votes to 9. Sir Joseph Ward then moved to report progress and discussion upon this motion continued for nearly two hours. At 6.40 a.m. news of the <3cath of Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., was brought into tlio House, and an immediate trace was called. Progress was reported, and the Primo Minister announced that no Committees would sit that day, He then moved the adjournment, and the House rose at 6.45 a.m. until 2.30 p.iu,. ' When tho House resumed at 2.30 p.m., the interrupted debate on the question'that leave he given to Sir Joseph Ward to bring in the Public Servlco Amendment Bill was adjourned Until next sitting day. A motion relating to t«e death of Mr. G. Laurenson, lati; member for Lyttelton, was affirmed, and tho House rose at 3.30 p.m. as a mark of respect to the late member. The Legislative Council met, but also adjourned after a similar motion had been recorded.