"OUT FOR THE NIGHT."

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13871, 24 October 1910, Page 6

"OUT FOR THE NIGHT."

Tho action of the Primo Minister in compelling the House to clear off all the remaining clauses of the Estimates by an ali-night-and-half-day sitting on Friday and Saturday was beyond all reason. We can quite understand that Sir Joseph Ward was not desirous or' Opposition criticism of the Estimates, but his likes and dislikes give Mm no excuse to ride rough-shod over the members who rightly conceive it to be their duty to look closely into the Dominion's expenditure. The time occupied in discussing matters of expenditure is emphatically not wasted, Sir Joseph's querulous protests notwithstanding, and the pity is that tho Government following should lend themselves so meekly to the Government's attempts to muzzle criticism. The Government themselves are solely responsible for any necessity that may now exist for expediting business. But for their extraordinary reluctance to let members discuss tho Estimates earlior in the session, the whole of the votes could have been considered thoroughly and passed long before this lato stage. But as we have pointed out before, for thirteen or fourteen weeks Parliament practically did nothing, and the time that should have been spent on the country's business was frittered away in trivialities and wranglings. The Premier may be very gratified with the result of his tactics, but we shall be greatly surprised if the country shares his satisfaction when it realises the purpose underlying his action.