THE STONEWALL

Evening Star, Issue 17482, 13 October 1920, Page 3

THE STONEWALL

LESSONS TO LEASEHOLDERS,

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON,, October 12. It was a big physical ordeal on the part of the opponents of Mr Hunter's Gaming Bill to keep up the fight without inter.mission for adjournment carne for breakfast. Regarded simply as a test of endurance it was remarkable, because the methods were not so finished as in the old days, when stonewalling was scientifically conducted, with proper regard for the conservation of energy, relays of speakers relieving each other. 'ln this case everybody remained on deck throughout, the main burden of Bpeech falling on Messrs M'Combs, Litt, D. Jones, Wright, Ngata, Malcolm, and the Hamilton brothers, one of whom (Awarua's representative) developed a surprising amount of ingenuity m avoiding the pitfall of Standing Orders, though ho is a new member without reputation for talkativeness. When the stonewall had proceeded eight nours the supporters of the Bill were confident they could easily 'ast out the anti-gamblers, as they were called, but events proved them wrong, because the second reading, giving comparatively few chances of obstruction, compared with the committee stage, lasted till daylight overwhelmed the electric lights. There was a, forraidablo list of committee amendments which on divisions alone would have taken several hours. Mr M'Combs was responsible for 118, and other supporters 39, a total of 157, besides those which could have been indented on the spur of the moment. Mr M'Combs, during tho early morning hours when most of the members slept on their benches, or in- the lobby, endeavored to work an astute move. He induced the opponents of the Bill to leave the Chamber and then called attention to the state of the House. If there had been no quorum after the division bells ring the whole business of sitting would have been annulled, but Mr Hunter and his' friends, though napping, were not to be caught quite asleep, and the manoeuvre failed. The experience has not bean lost on the Leaseholders who now realise how effectively a minority can hold up objectionable measures; consequently it is not surprising to hear that the Bill to confer the freehold on Rotorua tenants will be celebrated with an all-night sitting.