PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1914, 24 November 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

GAGE THROWN DOWN. CUTTING THE "GORBIAN KNOT" A LEADERS' DUEL. .. . \ POSSIBILITY OF DISSOLUTION? Midnight on Saturday found the Opposition party in tho House of llepresentativea still blocking, the progress of the Legislature Amendment- Bill, in order to prevent the Government from bringing down its proposals for o'ectoral reform. After The Dominion went ta press oil Saturday morning, tho little cohort of obstruetfonislis taking tho night-watch contrived to keep talking ttntil breakfast time an Mr. itiissoll's amendment to delate tho ■ word "legislature" from tho short title. 1 In order to keep up tho queer comedy of professing to he interested in .something that was not put forward seriously, .however, they had to make use of every possible circumlocution they could command, to talk about every interruption, however trifling, and to introduce into their occasional ten minutes' speeches much that waipnot relevant to the Bill. Time after time tho Chairman had to call members to order for discussing irrelevant matter, and for tedious repetition. Two members cMy, howovor, Mr. G, "Witty and Mr. H. Poland, were ordered to resume their seats, both for persisting in tho discussion of irrelevant- matter;

Through it all Government members slumbered noisily or otherwise for most of the night. A sufficient number remained in the House ts ensure that the quorum would bo ke-pfc present in'tho easa of a count boing asked for, Slid tho _ reserves slept, on couches in the \Y hips' room and elsewhere in tho building. They seemed to make themselves fairly comfortable with' cushions and rugs, and morning revealed them looking very little tho worse for their vigil, or rather disturbed sleep, of the past two nigbts. During tho night two supplementary Order Papers wero circulated, (jiving notice of amendments a the name of Mr. A. 0. Hindwarsh and Mr. G. W. Russell. Mr. Hi-ndmarsh's proposed amendments have to do with election expenditure, and Ml', Rtissell proposes a number of new clauses to introduce the system of preferential voting in connection with Parliamentary cloctions.

. Just befor/! 8 a.m. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that the Committee ought to adjourn until 2.30 p.m. ' on Monday. Members •of the Opposition, ho urged, thou gist th is would bo 116 more than a seemly tribute to a former colleague. If tho Prime Minister would agree to tliis the Opposition would put through tlie short title. This would bo no advantage to rtem, beeauso they could, and probably vojild, resist this iintil 2,30 p.m. on Monday. Mr. Peareo: You are looking at it from your own point of view, and forgetting tho country's point of view, just like the other strikers. Sir Ward said that this was not the position, although ho'rccftgiiisod that this Was being alleged. The Hon. W. F. Mnssoy said lie My ; gretted that he could not accede to ' tho request of the honourable Rontlemaii. "I must remind him," he. sttldj "that I have a duty to this Houso and,-to this country, and. lam going to dp it to. the best of jmy ability. So for-as the request of the honourable gentleman is concerned, arrangements have boon made to adjourn. until tho afternoon. I do not thinly tho lionowrablo gentleman acted properly in urging tho reason that ho did for the-; adjournment until Monday. Wo are doing. all that we consider necessary to pay proper respect to tho rata Mr. Laurenson. If I thought more Was necessary, more- would be clone, file honourable gentleman suggested that we should pass the Short title. I may ! remind him that this is tlio fourth day ''of.dismission on the short title, if I may call it discussion. I shall not apply the right name to it on this occasion. But I am not anxious to keep tho Bouso sitting here, and I /imnko this offer to my friends opposite. If they pass the short title and the next claus'o then I shall move to adjourn, until 2.30 p.m. on Monday. I may tell the honourable gentleman, also that I am going to see this fight through," Sir Joseph Ward: So are we,. Mr. Massey: Wo are determined to soo tlio fight through whatever the consequences may be.

Minority Rule, Sir Joseph Ward said the request lie kid made to the Prime Minister had been a reasojrahlo alio, and' lie regretted exceedingly that tho' request had not been granted .In return the Prime Minister had made » Wquest that was not, reasonable, to which lie regretted that he could ljot agree. "Wo will fight this right out to tho end," ho saidj "irrespective of what the consequences may be. Wo will fight it bocans® wo believe we are doing the right thing. Wo will maintain this fight to tho end, no ■ matter how' long it may be.' } •Mr. Massey: The honourable geirtleman. lias told us lie is going to see this tiling through.. I would remind hint what happened wlvon the Second liallot Bill was before the House. It was strongly opposed by several hdiiotirabin members, giicluding myself, but tlioro was 110 .stonewalling. The honourable gentleman• was also allowed to pass a liuge Electoral ])iil to wliieii there Was much opposition. We were prepared to submit, to the rule of the majority. What tho hcmeurable. gentleman iis doing is trying by improper methods to imposo the will of tue minority on tlio majority. I am prepared to taie the wliole eon-sequences of what I am doing.

Sir Joseph Ward said' tho Opposition would continue to fight because they were fighting for a _ principle. (Laughter.) He had asked simply that tlio matter of this Bill should' bo postponed until ail the proposed alterations tn tho electoral law could be brought down. Up to dato tho Opposition had been fighting on nothing.' Later, when iliero would be really important matter to fight on, no power on earth could stop them dealing with all tlio clans.es of the Act. Mr. Masscy: I know what mil stop JonSir Joseph Ward: Yon try anything in tho way of tlio guillotine in this House- and seo what the rosillt will be. You try it oil, Yofi Will land yoUrsoif in serious troublo. One Way of Ending It.

Ml - . Massoy: Tho honourable- gentles man says 1 am going to land myself in serious trouble. But there is a- way of cutting tlie Gordi-ft.u knot, and when the times comes tlio Gordiau knot will be. cut cleauly. I Uvtow oxaotly of svlwtf am speaking. Rt'ferci-icu Ji-aa been made to tho utuisua.l method' by which this , .matter wfts placed before Parliament, but 1 say that the circumstances were uiiusiwl. It was afior suc'li obstruction led by the Leader of the Opposition, as had .never b«tu attempted in any Parliament in this country. Something lias bee.ii said too about majority rule. Tl-io 1-wn. gentleman, i-a trying t-o impose minority rule iii this House. I may tell him that seventy-five per cent of tilio members of this Houso were pledged before the electors last year to repeal ■tho Seeon-d Ballot Act. There aro men who ttro pledged to support the repeal of the second Ballot who are now opposing it. Their pledges are -recorded. I

have those records, and the peoplft of tho country Imvo those records, and when those gc-ntlcmen are asked, (is they may be in tho very near future, why tliosi) pledges are not kept, they ; will find it hard to answer. Sir, Ngata: I raise a paint of order* I think this statement has gone far enough. Mr. Massey: You don't like it. Sir Joseph Ward roso at oiieo and said ho had no objection to the Prime Minister continuing. Mr. Massey did not accept this invitation to continue, and Sir Joseph Ward wentou to speak again, wberetiptMi both. Mr. Dickson and Mr. Wilson raise 4 points of order _ objecting to the continuance of tho discussion. Mr. Statham, who was in. tlir- of course said that tho discussion was by tho indulgence. of tho House, but- Sir (Joseph Ward did not, at onoo sit down, imuiv tainiiig that he ought iii fairness to bo allowed to spe-ak. ■ • Mr. Massey: I ask my friends on this side of tb.o House to. return good foi* ovil, and let tho lion, gentleman' say what ho wants to say, Opposition Defiance. bir Joseph Ward : I want to say, with regard to the Prime Minister's $t4temciit, that under certain circumstances lie. "will cut thi} Gordian' knot—l-say ho lias no power to do it, Tlmt power is boyoittL luiii, and if that were done, it Would l)o stjeh a departure from constitutional practice tliat I don't think any man in a, responsible position"iV'o'iild daro to do it. But if tho Gordia.n knotis cut, wo are ready for it. And we are not going to trade upon tho troililes the community in tho hope that wo aro going to. get any. political advantage. Ave aro above that and beyond ii. At 5.12 a.m. Mr. Stathain left tho Ulkuv to resume it at 2.3Q the same afternoon.

A dull Saturday. When the Committee resumed at 2.30 p.m. a vote was at once taken, on tho ttsotro.il (by Mr. G. W. Russell) to strike out the word "Legislature"' l from the short title of tho Bill, and it was negatived on the voice's! The Hon. A. '1\ Ngnta then, moved to report progress. This opened up, a tolerably wide field of talk, and tho Opposition drifted easily through the afternoon without coming much. iiito conflict with tho Chairman. Mingled with tho mass of timo-wastin.E talk which tho afternoon bi'ought forfli Was a certain amount of advocacy of the Saturday half-holiday and of Sunday observance that had a ring of sincerity about Sfr J. Ward Angry. Although placid dullness dominated the proceedings, teiiipors woro on tho strain. 'Tliis was indicated by an occasional fretful' interjection, anil cifteo in a plainer way. Just after 4 p.m., when Sir Joseph Ward -was speaking, Mr. Anderson (member for Mataura} made an interjection of some kind. Sir J. Ward resented it, and in doing so re* tuarked that Mr. Anderson's interjection was not to be wondered at, considering thai member's condition of health.

The Hon. W. S. Herries asked whether it was ill order to make such areiiefctioii upon all hon. member. Sir J. Ward declared, angrily, that tho Minister had made a. statement about him which was not /fact. The. Chairman ruled that the remark made by Sir J. Ward had boon j.ustiIkcl, but that member evidently misheard, for, speaking with every indication of suppressed/ anger, too moved that the matter should bo referred to Mr. Speaker. At this laughter j:oeo from tho Govenunent benelies.__. The Chaii'inaii repeated his ruling, and the wrath of the member for Awarua was assuaged. Mi% Auderso.n now raised q, point of order, and said that Sir J. Ward hail made a statement, that might ruileet on him (Mr. Anderson). He wished to say that he was in perfect health, ami perfectly sober. Tije Chairman: Will the lion, gentleman resume his seat? s. This terminated the incident. The motion to report progress hadnot been disposed of when tlio Chairman loft the Chair at 5.30 ji.m. mitil 7.30 p.m.

Following is a record of speakers [jmd speeches from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.: Mr. A. T. Kgatn (I), Sir J. Ward (2), Messrs. G. Witty (1), J. Payne (2). J. C. Thomson (1), R, M'Galium : '(1), ' 11. fi. Ell (.1), J. A. Haiian (1), A. 11. Hiiidmarsh (1), Dr. Rangifiii'da. It. : \Y. Smith (2), A. B. Glover (1), G. AY. Russell. (1), If. Atmore (2), , , ' .Laboured Efforts. Tho discussion upon tho motion to report progress was contimlod at- 730 p.m. A quarter of ,an hour later -tW Cliairman {Mr; A. S. Malcolm)' intimated that the following subjects bad' been talked about to tho point of tedionsness, and must not be again re-: ferred to .in discussing the motion Health, pleasure, private business, pub-: lie business, Bills, an understanding Ijs>tweeii the parties, and tho length of the session. Before. long ho added to the list "home ties 'and obligations" aiul "the Chairman's intimation of for* l bidden subjects," Under those conditions Oppositionists laboured heavily.hi their otlorts to keep the talk going. .Following is tls.o list of those who spoke betivuen 7,30 p.m. and 9.20 p.m., the number •of occasions on which each ■ 'speaker was tailed to order boing shown in parentheses Messrs. G. AV.. Forbes (1), J. C. Thomson (4), Dr. Rangihiroa (2), A. 11. Hindmarsh (3),' It. M'Callnm (3), G. AY. Russell (0), (J. Witty (2), 11. G. EH (2), W, D. S. Maadoiraid (3), T. E. Y. Seddou (3), 31. Poland (4), J. C, Thomson <6). Some, of tho speakers found it so difficult- to observe the rules of debate that ; t-lioy voluntarily, sat dftivn before t iyey l.itid exhausted their time. At 9.20 p.m., Mr. Ngnta said: "''l think that-this .matter has gone far enough." A division ftas then taken . on tho motion to report progress, and it was negatived by 35 votes to 5:2. The short tifclo of tho Bill now again, became tho subject of "discussion." The Closing Scenes. Speaking at 11.15 p.m., Mr. G. W. Russell denounced the Bill as a "s'liain - and a humbug.". -He asserted that no such person war .kiiow-n to tho law as tho Clerk of Parliaments, and that there wore .no statutory duties for that officer to perform. Tito Government, he continued, had passed tho Hill through tho other Chamber for the - purpose of "sneaking into it" an important amendment of tho constitution. In this way tho discussion that would otliorwiso liavo taken place upon the Bill at its various stagos, when it was before tho Upper- House., had been avoided. He accused tlio Government also of kfiepiiifi the Bill back in order to secure a "backstairs" method of repealing tho Second Jtallot, and ehalteiiged tho Hon. A. L. Hordman to show where tho o-ffico of Clotk of Parliaments existed .exccpt -iii tho clauses of tlio Bill beforo ilic Committeo.

No further progress had been made wluui t?ii> Chairman announced, sjfc 11.52 p.m., that 1m would leave t'lio'ehair until 2.30 p.m. to-day. Tho order of speakers from 9.2*3 p.m. until ] 1.62.p.m. was: Messrs, J, A. llaiinii, R. M'CnlliuH, Dr. IhmKjluroa, A. IT. Hindmiush. 0. Witty. G. Forties, C, Valuta, .1. A, Han,lll, G. W. Russell, It. Atworc, H.'iG. 1311, Dr. Rangi'liiroa., iind H. Poland.