CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 89, 11 October 1913, Page 6

CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE

GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION. After breakfast in th,e House of Representatives to-day members of the Opposition diverted their attention from the clauses of the Land Bill to what they called tho "driving tactics" of the Government. Almost pathetic reference was made to the overtime the House had been driven, to work, and Mr. Ell ventured upon a challenge to the effect that if comparative statistics were examined it would be found that this-session was the most sever© as regards late sittings within his experience as a, legislator — fourteen years. The Hon. F..M. B. Fisher, who was in charge of the Bill, rose in confidence and waved a alip of paper in his Hand. He was happy to accept the challenge, and tell the House exactly what had taken place during this' session in. respect to late sittings. Up to yesterday the House had sat for sixty-two days, and during that time the average sibting was seven hours one minute. During a- similar period under the Ward Government in the middle session (1910) the average was 1 also seven, hours one minute. "Ohl" cried Government members, in a tone of delight. Hon. Minister proceeded to say that during that session of the Ward Government the House sat thirty-five times after midnight, as against thirty-one this session, and this session included, owing to obstructive tactics, one sitting for eighty-five hours. As a matter of fact, he said, the hon. gentleman (Mr. Ell) does not really know what hard work is. Sir Joseph Ward Baid this showed how very closely the present Government attempted to approximately follow the work of the Ward Government. The difference was that tho Ward Government in the, period of sixty-two days had all their policy measures before the House, while this session they had only a proportion of the Government programme before them. "That being the case," he added, " you will find comparison entirely in favour of the Ward Government." The Hon. Mr. Fisher: Because you had a reasonable Opposition^