THE COUNTRY'S BUSINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 290, 8 December 1933, Page 6

THE COUNTRY'S BUSINESS.

The "boil-over" in the House yesterday has more than a superficial interest for the country. That the Prime Minister should be defeated on a motion is sufficiently rare and exciting to be an event, and there is perhaps something reassuring in this proof that private members can so assert themselves. But however much Mr. Forbes may have lacked' judgment in trying to obtain priority for a private member's Gaming Bill, the ultimate responsibility for the trouble that arose yesterday rests with the House. Year after year an attempt has been made to bring our gaming laws into line with common sense and honesty, but for some reason or reasons the present state of affairs, reeking with hypocrisy and law-breaking, is allowed to continue. If the House had been accustomed to do its work properly it would have dealt with this matter long ago. Mr. Healy's Bill is very far from being the most important before Parliament, but it deals with a matter of real public interest, and it is part of the business that' members are paid to attend to. If it is left to the end-of-session rush and sacrificed, that is a reflection on the House. If members chose to reform their methods of doing their work, they could deal with all these matters on their merits, and there would be no scandal of bolted legislative meals and deferred business. The Prime Minister yesterday deplored the waste of time in discussion. This protest would come better from Mr. Forbes if his Government was not ready at the beginning of a session to use such loquacity as a screen for its own unpreparedness, but it is thoroughly well justified. As Mr. Forbes says, there are members who wish to speak on apy and every question, great or small. The waste of time is deplorable. We say again that it is astonishing that members of Parliament cannot or will not realise the extent to. which these methods of conducting the country's business are lowering the prestige of Parliament in the eyes of the people of New Zealand. i