The Government and the Stonewall.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20198, 28 March 1931, Page 14

The Government and the Stonewall.

It is difficult to imagine why the Prime r Minister should be- anxious to exalt Labour from nuisances . into. martyrs. . It is not difficult to, imagine why he. should be anxious to get something done for the earthquake victims,.and why, if •it was. impossible, to proceed in any other way, he should have asked to have the stonewall suspended; But very few people will suppose that anxiety for the residents of Hawke's Bay was his only or chief reason for asking the House to adjourn. If he has not made his earthquake legislation an excuse for the interruption, he. has made it look like, an excuse, and it is in any case clear that he is seeking for a method of ending, the stonewall by, direct action.: ... This of course means, to begin with, that he has offered Labour a' grievance. It can now say, and almost now feel, that its battle, for the poor and afflicted has been, crushed by violence. It will certainly .be able t<? say, whether the new r\iles are adopted, or, not, .that what its .opponents Qould not do under the existing forms of the House they have attempted to do under repressive rules proposed and passed in fear or anger. They know that they had, only, to be left alone .for a few more reach the end of their resources; and that already they had reached, and passed, the limits of public patience. Yet the Government has given them a case and an excuse. Further, it is trying to give Succeeding Governments a weapon that 4MB far Required. ; The stonewall, is seldpscL used; partiy tecaiisd it "ifl difficult to use successfully, partly because it brings obloquy on those'who usß it ■unsuccessfully and without the clearest justification. But the "gag? "will be u3j>d. It may, be" used freely, and tc^ *s®- :- 8 .P - totycaimy.- • ; 1 '