SECOND BALLOT REPEAL

Evening Star, Issue 15344, 19 November 1913, Page 5

SECOND BALLOT REPEAL

OPPOSITION POLITICALLY TRICKED [From Oun Parliamentary Retortee.] WELLINGTON, November 19. A tug-of-war started from the moment •ho House of Representatives went into committee last night to give further consideration to the Legislature Amendment Hill, a simple mcasuro providing for the appointment of the deputy clerk of Parliament as Clerk of Parliaments during any vacancy in the clerk's office. It was very clear that leading members of the Opposition suspected the possibility of the. Government playing a constitutional trick upon them by introducing into the Bill a provision for the repeal of the second ballot. They knew, of course, that they had temporarily blocked the introduction of a Bill to effect the Repeal of the Second Ballot, Act, and, perhaps, their political , conscience had mado them apprehensive \ of a subtle movement on the part of the 1 Government, who had made no secret of their intention to abolish the second ballot, which has not worked for the happiness of some politicians. The Hon. A. T. Ngata voiced the suspicions of the Opposition, but failed to draw the Ministry. Then other members fried their powers of persuasion, but also failed for a time. Eventually Sir Joseph Ward landed a bigger •political "fish" thar\ most members of the Opposition really had expected to catch. Tho Prime Minister confessed that tho test of strength had to come, and that it was intended to take it on the Bill before tlio House. It was proposed to add a new clause providing for the repeal of the Second Ballot Act. This declaration occasioned exclamations of surprise mixed with satisfaction. Then Sir Joseph Ward wanted to know if it was proposed to provide any substitute. this session. ELECTORAL BILL NEXT YEAR.

Tho Prime Minister replied that there would he no substitute this session. The House would be given an opportunity of dealing with in Electoral Bill next year, when a substitute could, if the. House desired it, be provided ; but he did not propose to waste, any mure time dealing with a substitute this session. The Leader of the Opposition contended that it would bo a fair thing to defer consideration till next session," when the whole alterations to the electoral laws could be dealt with. THE TEST BEGINS.

Following an unsuccessful attempt by Six Joseph "Ward to learn how late the Government intended to sit that night, the Opposition settled down to fight with all their might against the Bill. The Ecader of the Opposition discovered a good subject in the salary of the deputy Olerk of Parliament, £450 per annum". He noted, in apparent sorrow, that although the clerk received £6OO there was no provision in the Bill to increase the salary of the deputy clerk while act inf in the higher office.. P This topic was soon beaten to death. After the. supper adjournment Mr Hindmarsh brought into service an old Electoral Bill which ho proposed to move as an amendment to the Bill. It took him 10 minutes to explain the old Bill. EXCELLENT FOOLING.

Mr Wilford brought his fertile imacination into play. and. for the purpose of stonewalling into profit. H«; announce that he would move several amendments providing tor woman legislators the, compulsory use of the Fisher voting machine at all election.-, a.nc: fo on. ]]<> unvested new titles for the Bill, one being • r A Bill for tho resuscitation of the apparently dead, md narrated a, ftorv about a rewaid that was given to the 'member of the Government who had recommended the movement taken by tho Ministry in regard to tho repeal of the second ballot It appeared from the hon. member's narrative that the Ministerialist who hit -ripen the idea was to be awarded a gold medal for life-saving. A little, variety was added by .Mr Glover who assured the House in effect that the second ballot had. no terrors for him. He had the confidence of his good people Other members filled in time. Then. Mr Wilford again dug fresh ground. Ho intimated his -.ntemtion to move another series of amendments. One of was to make provision for the salary of members to £350 on novef conditions. The length of a session was to bo 50 days exactly, and each member was to be fined £1 per day .luring the period. That would leave their salaries as they aro at present.

The Hon. Mr Hemes (who this how ici charge of the Bill} •. There, would be no tronewaJli'ng then. "Mr WiHord heartily concurred, and said that if.any member attempted unde~ his proposed system to etonewr.ll, th P . o thor members Tvould rise in their wrath and kill him. The member for Hutt proceeded to speak optimistically ol other amendments, such as providing for balloting for billets and the abolition of the system of party government. The latter reform could i-e accomplished effectively by means of an amendment consisting of four' short clause* He uould not just then disclose the terms ot that amendment. He desired to have the credit of it 3 originnlitv. So the r-am° was played till midnight, the House bavinsettled down to what looked like a pro" longed siege on the Bill. Shortly beforo 1 o'clock Mr Guthrie th" Chief Government "Whip, moved *-' an amendment to strike out the word " \c i " m clause 1, but Mr Poland forestalled hint by moving a prior amendment to strike out the previous word " this." The Chairman then confined the discussion to the word proposed to be taken out and the House is now listening to lengthy dissertations on the word ''This." [Per United Press Ap.socurrox.] WELLINGTON. November 19. ( After tho Telegraph Office closed at 2 oclock tin stonewall continued unabated Part of the tactics to gain time was to bring tha.Speaker into tho Chair to rule on a question of relevancy, which, under the .Standing Orders. re*ls entirely in the discretion of the Chainnan of Committees On the ]ntt. occasion this proceeding was resorted to tho speaker instructed the Chairman not to- take further notice of such a request, and if any member persisted in questioning hid ruling s „ c h member must bo named for contempt. __ Shortly after 2 o'clock Mr Ngata produced 'Webster's Dictionary,' and spent fome time, in exposition of the various forms in which the word " this " could be lifed. Tho speakers during the night were Messrs Poland, Forbes. Witty, Isitt -\|.. more, Maedorald. XqnUi, Kangiharo;:' and beddon, tho Ministers taking turns in charge of tho Bill. At 4.15 Mr Seddon was cautioned by Mr Hinc ; Acting Chairman, agn.inst discussing tho influenco of Latin on tho English language, his remarks being ruled irrelevant. At 5 o'clock a division was taken on Mr Poland's j-mendmenf, which was lost by 9—22.

A sharp passage took place between M'Atmere f.nd tho Hon. Dr Pomaro, in which Iho Invited the former to come outm<lp, when the Chairman interpceed. Sir Joseph' Wart! moved to report progress, the discussion proceeding on thai question until 6.40, when Mr Mas?ey anmoonced that he had just Tereived the sad intelligence of the death of Mr George Laureneon, m/mber for LvtteltoTi, which occurred at 4 o'clock. Ho" at ones moved that tne House adjourn till 2 30. Th» House ices at 6.45 a.m.