A LIFELESS DISCUSSION.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 288, 9 June 1909, Page 2

A LIFELESS DISCUSSION.

(Special to Standard). WELLINGTON, yesterday. Apart 'from .the speeches of Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Massey at yasterday's informal meeting of the members of Parliament there was comparatively little, of real interestin tho discussion on the question of the representation of the Government at tho Conference, the ivhole question having been virtually settled in cancus. It was known that the- Government had the support of a large majority, and that the Opposition, under tho circumstances, would content themselves with offering a strong protest to prorogation before the business was completed. Nobody objected to -the Premier going Home, and the Opposition was confined to putting off the session. Sir Joseph Ward made a vigorous speech of ; just under two hours. Mr Massey made all his points in under . one,, but it was soon apparent that the Opposition were beaten. After Messrs Taylor and Allen had spoken, I and the x latter had moved his amendment to continue the session, it was | evident that the sting had been taken out of the debate, which thereafter drifted on to a variety of subjects 1 bearing little on the main, question. [ Unemployment and internal defence formed the staple of discussion. One might have imagned that Parliament was in session, and was at the fag end of a discussion on a motion to go into Supply.