"THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROAD"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 293, 6 September 1919, Page 6

"THE CONSTITUTIONAL ROAD"

HON. MR., PAUL AND "DIRECT ACTION." Tho relations of Capital and Lalxmi have,' been pretty thoroughly discussed in tho courts of the Address-in-ltepiy debate in the Legislative Council. Tho Hon. J. T. Paul yesterday had something to sav upon the present status of Parliaments", particularly in the older countries of t]ie world. He referred to the lendeuey towards direct action as opposed to 'constitutional methods in luo settlement of certain questions, and ho distinguished between his use of tht phrasd "direct- action" and the common lndustnal'applicalion of the v.'tfds. Thin lei lit the Hon. Sir Francis Bell to ask exactly what Mr. Paul meant by "direct action." .ilr. Paul: Concerted 'action by a minority of the people for the purpose of setting aside or influencing by any means the decisions ol the Government. "In the. Old Country at tho present time," Air. Paul continued, " a minority of tho people aro threatening to strike against certain 'decisions of the Government," and 1 any that if that, is surec&-fill-there seems to me to be no halt-way between thnt and levolufioii-lhar. it niu't necessarily mean an appeal to arms. Then it labour' gets into power and becomes the Government.,it is quite a* reasonable and justifiable for some other seel ions who hold power _to-di»y to strike against the- wishes- or urcroes -ot the Labour Government. So that my opinion is that you can never make real and tangible progress along those lines. If you want solid and nnnieilialo progress, .1. believe that is best gamed bj taking .tho. constitutional road.