STORY OF THE STONEWALL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 73, 20 March 1914, Page 3

STORY OF THE STONEWALL.

MR G. W. RUSSELL'S VERSION.

Speaking at Balelutha on Tuesday night, Mr Russell, M.P. for Avou, related at length the histories of the three stonewalls set up in the House by the Opposition during the last session of Parliament. Dealing with what is known as the Second Ballot stonewall, Mr Russell said that he wished it to lie understood that in speaking of the action of Mr Malcolm—whom he noticed in the audience —in connection with this he was not speaking of him as the member for Clutlia, but as Chairman of Committees. The Second Ballot Bill was brought down six years ago for the purpose of endeavouring to provide that every man returned to Parliament should have the majority of the votes of the electors. That was only a fair thing. There should be some provision by which the people could say which of three candidates they desired to represent them in Parliament. He (Mr Russell) was not a lover of the second ballot because he had had to go to it twice —and he was proud to say came out on top on both occasions. (Applause.) After the Grey election the Government saw that if it could only get Liberal and Labour candidates dividing the progressive forces of the country there would be a

chance of its man getting in on a minor itv vote at the top of tiie poll, and therefore a proposal was made to abolish the second ballot. Although the Opposition admitted that the second ballot was not altogether satisfactory, they held that it should not be repealed unless there was a substitute provided for it. A little tiddly-winking Bill was brought down, "and the Government shoved into it a clause for the repeal of the second ballot. This could be only dealt with in Committee, where a member is permitted to speak only four times, and allowed twelve minutes each time. A gentleman who had been in the House at the time of the discussion j told him he was surprised at the ability i with which the discussion by the Opposition was carried on. The Opposition had - the Government absolutely beaten, and everything was done within the Stand- j ing Orders.. Had the Government been ' just it would have recognised defeat and dropped the Bill at once. But what I happened? There was 110 gag or closure in New Zealand legislation, but' a gag was invented. After the Opposition had refused to allow the Government to ' go one inch with the Bill, the Chairman of Committees, acting 011 a precedent of 1881, exercised the guillotine 011 members of the House, although the cases j were not analogous. The mouths of members were closed and the speakers j were ordered to resume their seats on j the grounds that their remarks were irrelevant and of tedious repetition. 1 Mr Colvin, an old member who had not spoken before, was not on his feet two ' minutes before he was ordered to re- I sume his seat on the ground of tedious repetition and irrelevancy. Then Mr . .1. A. Millar, rising to a point of order, | was told by the Chairman that in view of that gentleman's prominent position in the House he would be allowed to speak. At this Mr Colvin's Irish blood rose in hint, and he asked, "Is there one law for one man and another law for another man?" Both Messrs Colvin '■ and Millar were then stopped from speak- I ing. The Chairman's action in this case ' was un-British. That form of guillotine must not be allowed to exist. If they were to go in for the guillotine it must I not be at the caprice of one mau, but by the will of Parliament. (Applause.) Mv j Seymour, who Invented that sort of gag in 1881, was wiped off the face of the political earth by his constituents at the next election. "It is not for nie to ' make any suggestion to .you," concluded I Mr Russell, "but I tell you that New! Zealand expects Clutha to do its duty at the next election." (Applause, cheers i and dissent.) ]