SIMPLE OBSTRUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 63, 11 September 1924, Page 4

SIMPLE OBSTRUCTION

Labour's legislative policy is now being made plain. The pretence of co-operating with other parties for the general good of the people is being dropped. At one time Labour thought it expedient to profess at least consideration for the opinions of others. It believed them misguided, but it.was willing to examine their beliefs and aims, and see. if there was anything in them. But it was necessary to do this only while the party was striving for a foothold on the political ladder. Now that foothold appears secure, and Labour feels safe enough to drop the mask'and to appear in its true character of would-be, tyrant. Already in the House of Representatives the party has blocked the introduction of the Legislature Amendment Bill three times. It is threatening obstruction of ' other measures. Yesterday the mark was overstepped when Mr. P. Praser, with no apparent motive except a desire to annoy the Prime Minister, refused to withdraw his futile and foolish amendment to the title of the Legislature Amendment Bill. The only effect of his refusal was to make doubly plain the LabourParty's obstructive desires.

Some people, unfamiliar with the procedure of Parliament, may think our criticism harsh, and doubt whether the Labour member they^know can be tyrannical and unreasonable. But the facts cannot be disputed. Labour is in a minority and, because the party cannot have all its own way, is doing its worst to prevent legislation being considered. There is neither right nor reason in this if majority rule is accepted. In theory Labour accepts majority rule. It claims-to be" the most democratic of "all parties because^ its decisions are made by a majority; but. in practice it attempts to assert in Parliament that a minority is entitled to block any business which it does not approve. It is not sufficient to vote against it and speak against it: but Labour must take advantage of the forms of- Parliament which were designed to safeguard the rights of members in an attempt to deprive members of those rights. Possibly there are members of the party who realise that Labour is overstepping the bounds of democratic rule and doing itself and Parliament great harm; but if there are such members, ,they have assented to the obstruction, and must be . held equally culpable. Their attitude, while they remain silent, cannot be distinguished from that of the "New Zealand Worker," which openly gloats over the waste of time and cheers Labour "on to greater obstructive efforts.1 "The more they talk, the more sterile this Parliament is, the better things will be." says the "Worker" in an article which boldly advances the argument that until Parliament is ready to do the bidding of the Labour dictators it had best do nothing at all. ...-"'

Until we get a Parliament willing to legislate for the well-being of the workers, we care not how few laws are passed. As an alternative to bad laws futility is preferable. May the present Parliament meander and dodder through spacious vacuity is our prayer.

All of which must be read with, the understanding that not Parliament, not the people of New Zealand, but the Labour Conference and the Labour Party (though in a minority), are to be the judges without appeal as to what is for the well-being of the _workers and what are bad laws.

Recently, the Minister of Health stated that he had decided that, if the Southland Hospital Board did not grant Matron Ewart, late of lnvercargiU General Hospital, a pension of £100 per annum in respect of her twenty-three years' service, he would take steps to have that amount deducted from the hospital subsidy due to the board. Since then correspondence has been passing between the board and the Minister! who has discovered that,' to carry out tho direction indicated, the Department, would be exceeding its powers under the Hospitals Act. The Minister lias decided now to agree to tho original propos«il of the board, that a pension of £50 bo paid for a period of four years.

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