DELAYING BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 27, 1 August 1923, Page 11

DELAYING BUSINESS

A JUSTIFIABLE PROTEST

The Welfare League writes:—

"Apart altogether from party consid(hrations, we think the Prime Minister is fully justified in protesting against the ■useless waste of time that has been taking plaoe in the House. Whilst the Ad-Idress-in-Reply wrangle was on and iboth time and money were being wasted in numerous futile amendments, we protested in. the interest of the country. Again we appeal against the w.asting of any time, as such is, in our opinion, against the best interest of the Dominion. • -

"Were it an ordinary session, with no •pecial call of Imperial need, the position would.be different. We find, however, the leading statesmen in England looking to the coming Imperial Conferenoa as* of the utmost importance. All ■who are alive to the needs of the Empire realise the very great importance of this Conference, and within this Dominion thinking people must desire to see New Zealand represented. No doubt is held on the subject of Mr. Massey going Home as the country's representative.- To be there in time is vital.-What cense, when the time of his. sailing ia so near, is there in spending time on cap- ' tious motions.' which can effect nothing? On a recent occasion the Prime Minister was right in crying out: 'What is the game? and declaring that he would not toe humbugged. If the game is party, then we suggest-that party may •• wait whilst the Empire is served. Of course ordinarily a great deal of time is often spent on the first item of the Estimates and members may find it difficult to obetam from an old habit. However, they should realise that, whilst on other occasions it might not matter; this is not the occasion for mere expenditure of time m words, words, words. The Opposition say that the Government members are just as bad, they will reply to everything. l * _ "Well, whether it be Government or Opposition members who are indulging in. useless loquacity, we contend that it ought to cease, as it is really humbugging the country to so carry on at this time. The talk about a Library report was weak. Who cares a hang about a Library report getting an to 2 o'clock in the morning?. The important legislation to be dealt with should be concentrated upon with as little delay as possible, and the Prime. Minister assiited d&E 3T^ aZ yin^ out our Imperial *duty. The Empire must come before party interests of any kind, because, as all know, the most weighty and serous problems face the people/ and statesmen of our Empire to-day We tilco +>,» liberty of earnestly ap/ealinj to d" members of Parliament^ r^lise the urgency of the issues to be considered at the coming Imperial Conference; to need _be, and to help, and not hinder the Dominion's representative, who k Buch not as head of a party but as lead er of the constituted Government of New Zealand. Not words.but action is business ° S6t °n' ™th the "Our reason for dealing 'with this wrtv eiV£ Pl acm? the nation above to the DoMinion «rf Bft.