THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 P.O. Box 44 Office Oxford Place THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1929. “STONEWALLING.”

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 313, 7 November 1929, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 P.O. Box 44 Office Oxford Place THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1929. “STONEWALLING.”

“STONEWALLING” is a political practice which has been existent for many years, and probably will continue for years to come. It is difficult to see how the rules of the House could be altered to prohibit it. A party in power is justified in pushing through a measure which it believes is in the .interests of the country, an opinion which may not be concurred in by the party in opposition. Outvoted, the opponents of the Government resort to passive resistance to try to secure the rejection. Naturally it is said that the obstruction is justified. Agreement with this will be dependent on political opinion. But whatever the ' rights are the point arises what good is done? If obstruction is adopted instead of reason, then harm may happen. “ Stonewalling ” tactics usually provoke obstinacy. Doubtless the Leader of the Opposition will claim that the stonewall set up to the Land and Income Tax Bill was a meritorious act, and justify it by the fact that amendments were made, which otherwise would not have been secured. To a degree he will be right, but it does not follow that the bulk of the electors are going to agree that the stonewall was necessary. It seems more probable that the majority will regard the incident as a serious reflection on Parliament. They will wonder why it was that reasonable men could not quietly have come to some agreement on the hardship clause concession without the waste of time —and the country’s money—that ensued.