BUSINESS WITH HASTE

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 105, 31 October 1933, Page 8

BUSINESS WITH HASTE

Today the House of Representatives will resume discussion of the Reserve Bank Bill. The second reading stage is not yet finished, and afterwards the Bill must be considered ; clause by clause in committee. It is stated that, the Prime Minister is not satisfied with the progress made with Parliamentary business this session, and intends to ask the House, to do, more. There can be no objection to this. Many hour 9 have been, given to private members' Bills, not all of them of great importance^ and to general and often fruitless discussions. But we think it would be aimistake to apply the spur suddenly and'severely with so far-reaching ai measure as the Reserve Bank Bill—probably, the most important legislation th^t Parliament wil^Seal with this session. Certainly the proposal has been before the country for two and a half years; but it. came before Parliament in its final form only twelve days ago. For the previous delays the Government alone was responsible. Big "changes have been made in the Bill as originally introduced and as first recommended by Sir Otto Niemeyer. These changes should be considered thoroughly and without undue haste. In saying this, however, we do not wish to excuse anything approaching obstruction or waste of time. There is the greatest difference between reasonable discussion and deliberate stonewalling. The principles of this Bill must have due consideration without denying members the right to record their views; but when this opportunity has been given, any attempt to defeat the Bill by obstruction must be resisted.