FURTHER OBSTRUCTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1916, 26 November 1913, Page 6

FURTHER OBSTRUCTION.

Under the strict enforcement of the Standing Orders by the Chairman of Committees (Mr. Malcolm), the deliberate and long-sustained obstruction of the Legislature Amendment Bill'by the Opposition broke down, and the Bill was pjit through tho Committee stage about three o'clock yesterday morning. Over sixty hours were occupied in the discussion of the three stiort clauses of the Bill; and the two clauses which 'occupied the greater part of tlie time were finally passed without a division being called for, although they had not been altered in any way during the course of the discussion. The debate on the Bill has not, at time of writing, even yet concluded. Yesterday afternoon the Leader ofthe Opposition (Sir Joseph Waed) moved to recommit the Bill, in order to reconsider certain proposals to adopt the system of preferential vot» ing, notwithstanding the fact that these very proposals had already baen discussed in Committee, on the motion of Mr, G. W. Russell, and rejected by ;il votes to 21. This new obstructionist move meant a further prolongation of this interminable discussion, and is quite unjustifiable in view of the fact that ' the House has definitely expressed its mind on the point raised. However, as the Speaker stated in reply to a question by the Minister of Marine, such motions were permitted by tho Standing .Orders. The way has been thus opened for another flood of Opposition oratory, and the third reading debate will give still further opportunities for a coutimtancc of this ( senseless obstruction and waste of time.