The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY -MORNING. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1913.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3438, 16 September 1913, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY -MORNING. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1913.

There are not many people, wo feel, who would honestly A Sorry Waste say that much good, of Time. if any, is likely to

. accrue as a result of the continuanco of tho “stonewall” that has been sot up in the House. It is, no doubt, the case that instances are on record where obstructionist tactics have led, say, to thc disclosurc of important official information thatthe public had every right to learn but which the Government that happened to be occupying the Treasury Benches would have preferred not to have revealed. In the present case, however, all tho trouble has not arisen because Mr Massey and his colleagues wish to conceal tho information that is being sought: tho complaint being merely that certain departmental reports which are bound to come before tho House as soon as they are printed have not yet been brought down. As it so turns out, tho reports have really been compiled and their non-appear-ance so far has been duo solely to the block of work in the Government Printing Office. That such is the case was abundantly shown by tho fact that Ministers when challenged on the point (it will have been noted) were able to lay bn the table of the House “proofs” of the matter contained in what was regarded as the most urgent document that has not yet been published. If the reports cannot be printed and circulated at the present time—well, they simply cannot, and if tho Opposition are sincere they should have been satisfied, after reasonable discussion of the point, at having emphasised the desirableness of all reports being presented to the House at an earlier stage in tho case of future sessions. But evidence is not wanting that the motive for all the waste of time has been merely opposition for opposition's sake. Ii this connection, it will have been seen, that early on Saturday morning the new Leader of the Opposition appears to have become piqued because a minor member of the Government party—no doubt in all good .faith—counselled the Prime Minister to go to the length of pushing through the whole of the Estimates. To this “challenge” Sir Joseph Ward (it was reported.) replied that what the previous "speaker had invited was a sitting that would last until midnight that night—some 21 hours further ahead. And that was, of course, exactly what the Opposition brought about as a result of carrying on its “stonewalling” tactics. Apparently Sir Joseph Ward had thus early forgotten the remarks wlicih he made in acknowledging the congratulations which were extended to him only a few days previously, after it had been officially announced that he had been re-elected to the position of Leader of the Liberal party. On that occasion it may be remembered he declared “that it would be his duty- to .cooperate with the Prime Minister as leader of tho House in helping him and Air Speaker to uphold the high traditions which had been so conspicuous in the history of the New Zealand Parliament, etc., etc.” The fact of tho matter is, no doubt, that the present Opposition is not the only Opposition that has resorted to “stonewalling” tactics at times without, as well as at times with, good and sufficient reason. But two “blacks” never make a “white” in regard to political matters no more than they do in connection with any other matter. What will happen again this session, as in tho case of so many previous sessions, will then simply bo this: that if the Government “sticks to its guns” it will push through its heavy legislative programme and once again the cry will bo raised of hasty legislation, and once again many members will at the end of the session return to their homes more or less broken down in health. Such, alas! is the. curse of party Government, when carried to tho extreme, although if a spirit of sweet reasonableness were always allowed to prevail as far as possible throughout any session—and such' sessions are upon record—much business could be transacted to tho benefit of the country as a whole and at a minimum of discomfort and inconvenience to those who are entrusted with this very important work.