"AN ABOMINABLE WASTE OF TIME."

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14288, 26 February 1912, Page 7

"AN ABOMINABLE WASTE OF TIME."

COMPLAINT AGAINST PROLOXGATION OF DEBATE. { (special to "tht- fekss"). 1 WELLINGTON, February 2i. i Protest against- the prodigal manner ' in which Parliament allows the hours to ( pass aro already being made by new j members, several of whom espreseed great indignation last night at the way < tho vital issue in politics had been svib- j ordin&ted by iho lengthy debate on i the allegations relating to tho member . for Grey Lynn. Tho Labour member ] for Wellington South (Mr A. H. Hindmarsh) proceeded to lecuiro the House when at 12.45 a.m. tho Prime Minuter < proposed tho adjournment of tho noconndence debate over the. week end. < Eo urged the Leader of the Opposition to oppose the adjournment and pro- , mised to assist him if he endeavoured to compel the House to resume the discussion on tho want-oi-coufidence motion. Hβ declared that tnere was a grave risk that further delay would give opportunity ior the creation ot a uct.tiaiii public opinion in tho Wangauui and the Oiaki electorates tuat nujjht possibly mislead his colleagues veitch and Koberuon. i rom his tKporicuce ho knew that a union would readily acquiesce in a proposition submitted to it without considering tho etieet or its resolution. Sir Joseph Ward objected, saying that every member had a right to 6peak. Mr Hindmarsh: I am perfectly aware ot that. They can go on speaking. to-night. Sir Joseph Ward: We shall sit hero till midnigat to-morrow. Mr Hindmarsh: It has beon done before, dono by you often enough. (Laughter). Tho Prime Minister replied that if a roto was taken on Monday or Tuesday the debate would be finished in ten days, and ho did not know of any important no-confidenco debate completed in that time. Mr Massey: Oh, yes. Mr Fisher (Wellington Central): The House of Commons started one after we started this one and finished it the day before yesterday. Mr Wilson (Taumarunui) mado a vigorous protest against the waste of time, and his remarks were endorsed by the Leader of the Opposition who declared that there had been an abominablo waste of time in connection with the debate. He had never before seen such a wilful waste of tiino. Tho Prime Minister: Let us go on to-night (Ministerialists: no, no)) Mr Buick (Pnlmerston) said there had been a gross waste of time on Thursday—no one could deny it—and more waste by a squabble over a member who thought ho had been ill-treated. In his opinion it did not matter mush whether he had beon. A member who boasted that ho had broken a pledge was not Worth much. Finally it was agreed that tho deTrnto should.be resumed at 7.30 p.m. on Monday and the House rose at 1.15 &.m.