PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY:

Affairs in connection with the obstruction of the Legislature Amondmont Bill by the Opposition party in the House of Representatives underwent a sudden chango when members reassembled yesterday afternoon. As soon as he took tho Chair, Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Chairman of Committees) made a formal statement, in tho course of which ho remarked that, though tho House had been occupied almost continuously during the whole of last week with the Legislature Amendment Bill, no progress had been made. There were occasions, ho went on to state, when the Chairman, in order to deliver the Committee from a deadlock, had disregarded the Standing Orders, and insisted upon the business of the country being proceeded with. In this connection he quoted the speech of Mr. Speakor O'Rorko in 1881, when obstruction of the Representation Bill was ended by tho decision of the then Chairman, subsequently upheld by the Speaker, that tho question should bo put without further discussion. Mr. Malcolm said that while he was not prepared to at onco follow the precedent quoted of setting. aside the Standing Orders, he would during tho remainder of the debate' exorcise the full powers conferred upon him under the Standing Ordors of limiting discussion. These powers were very wide.

The Chairman's announcement was listened to with close interest by a Houso in which tho attendance of members was larger than at any time during last week. Sir J. Ward said that tho Opposition ; had anticipated the position. He sub- ! mitted that the circumstances were ma- ; terially different from those of 1881, in- ; asmuch as the Standing Ordors now im- ' posed strictor limits upon discussion. He stated, however, that ho and his party did not propose to' attempt to i question tho Chairman's decision. ' The Prime Minister' said that he was . glad to notice the spirit in which the 1 statement mado by tho Chairman had i been' accepted by tho Leader of the ; Opposition and his followers, i At 3.2 p.m. work upon tho LegislaI ture Amondment Bill was resumed, and .tho short title and second clausa, that is to say, the whole of tho Bill as introduced, were passed in about half a . minute. Tho Hon. I'. M. B: Fisher then moved -to insert a new clause repealing the /Second Ballot. j Sir Joseph Ward quoted statements, i made in 1911 by tho Prime Minister and other members of tho present Government, to the effect that they were in favour of providing a substitute for the Second Ballot, and declared that_ tho failure to provido such a substitute meant that the people of tho country Vcro being deceived. • The Prime Minister, in the course of ra, vigorous reply, denied absolutely that 'there had been any breach of faith. The Government, ho said, did not propose t'i bring down any substitute this/session, but another Electoral Bill would ho introduced next session, and if a j majority of members so desired a subißtitute could be provided then. The discussion continued until 5.30 p.m. upon Jnormal lines, except that it was confined Almost entirely to members of the Opposition. The rank and filo.of his party .followed their Leader in denouncing the

■repeal proposal. i The Hon. W. F. • Massey interrupted (the Committee proceedings shortly after |7.80 p.m., to move that proper ©as be reWported, in. order that arrangements [could -bo made for the filling of the ftjyttelton vacancy. IJe moved the cus■itomary motion that Mr. Speaker be ijjirected to issue the necessary warrant. ftThe motion was bound to be agreed to !ps a matter of course, but two of the (Opposition front benchers, Sir Joseph jlWard and Mr. G. W. Russell, made liise of the opportunity to make a little [party capital. Sir Joseph Ward asked f also whether the Second Ballot Repeal UAct would apply to the by-election, and Urged that it should not. Mr. G. "W. ilussell said in as many words that Stthe'Government had delayed the. Grey [election while they wero seoking a candidate, and were hastening the LyttelIfton election because they had their man ft-eady. In reply, Mr. Massey expressed fjiis entire disgust with the conduct of |*the member for Avon in trying to score '■a party advantage on such a matter. the operation of the Repeal "of the Second Ballot, Mr. Massey said .the Government had not considered tho possibility of the Bill becoming law in ftime for the by-election.

, Matters became very lively in the rievening when tlie Second Ballot debate ! was resumed. On taking ■ the Chair, 1 Mr. _ Malcolm intimated that in his topinion discussion upon the repeal clause had continued long enough. 'Members, lie said, were repeating arguments that had been frequently used. fv7hat this meant soon became evident, :Jor one member after another was • "guillotined" in the most summary (fashion. .Mr. Millar moved to take tho 'Speaker's ruling upon tho Chairman's hittitude, and, in faco of tho woll-known [rule that- tho Chairman's decision in [ ■regard to irrelevancy is final, this was 'agreed to. ! The Speaker declined .-to interfere in l)iny way with the Chairman's ruling. •He also stated that it was tho duty of both the Speaker and the Chairman of Committeos to prevent wilful waste of !timc.

j Tho clause was Tcad a second timo fry 36 votes to 26 at 10.5 p.m. Subsequently an amendment moved by ' Sir • J. Ward to defer the coming into oporj.ntion of the clatise "until the next general election was defeated bv 34 votes ! -to 2!5. Tho clause was added to tlir f'lßill by 33 votes to 23 at 0.69 a.m. I , Amendments wero still being put forjVartl by Opposition members when' wo '*rent to press.