POLITICAL BATTLES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 August 1924, Page 5

POLITICAL BATTLES.

ARE THEY SERIOUS ? (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 6. With, an air of initiating the public into the mysteries of Parliament, Mr Dickson (Port Chalmers) remarked in the House to-day- that outsiders understood' that what was going on was attack and counter-attack, and that members took things as seriously as the onlookers, but those who had been in Parliament for some time knew there was a certain amount of mimic warfare. “It is questionable,” lie continued, “whether the Opposition wish to carry the fort. It may be like Phyrrus of old—one more such victory and I am undone. I am not a strong supporter of party warfare, and would like to see the time when Parliament will be responsible for legislation and the Government for administration.” He conceded that there was no hope of a Government with a narrow majority introducing such an innovation, members to speak their minds, instead of obliging Government members to support and Oppositionists to oppose, though they sometimes favoured Government measure’s. If complete freedom of speech was allowed the Government would take great notice of the criticism of its own because it would be sincere.