PARLIAMENTARY OBSTRUCTION : A SEVENTEEN HOURS' SITTING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 185, 2 August 1878, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY OBSTRUCTION : A SEVENTEEN HOURS' SITTING.

[Times May 15.] Tfaa sitting in (he House of Commons on Monday was memorable if not sdifyiag. As many- topics were discussed as would furnish some legjstive assemblies with ample work for weeks ; the Irish members displayed a consummate mastery of the art of obstruction; the House sat until 25 minutes to ten yesterday morninp, or for seventeen hours and a haif ; aad, except the passing of a few trival votes, nothing was done. Such in the way in which the House of Commons sometimes shows that it the most practical assembly in the world. That the Irish members displayed striking physical endurance is undeuiable. But sa logislaiiou rt quires other qualities, the display was not very credible to the House of Commons. Wbat do either the advocates or the opponents of the Bill hope lo gain by keepiDg each other out of bed and Btoppio£ the legislative work of thecountry ? They are certainly at lenst not taking the most effectual menus to retain Irish business iv their own haods. At present they are to a large extent ellowed to transact it in their own way; but the English members would be obliged to interfere in a decisive fashion if rsany more nights were spent In wrangling. An overburdened Assembly cannot permit iis time to be wasted. A new argument will also have been furnished in favor of so changing the rules of debate as to abridge the obstructive power of minorities. That power grew up under the supposition that the collective opinion of the members would prevent it being miauaed. Such was once the case. Such may be the case again. But at present it seems almost lik,e satire to speak of that form of restraint. The Irish members have shown with brilliant, success how lightly it toucheathem.