A TALKING TEAM

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 October 1924, Page 5

A TALKING TEAM

- GAMING BILL STONEWALL. OBSTRUCTION TACTICS. DEPLORABLE WASTE OF TIME. (By Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 23. The first 24 hours of the Gaining Bill stonewall in the House of Representatives ended at 3.30 this afternoon with the discussion proceeding on the old topic that the short title be adopted. It was varied at times by. a motion that the chairman leave the chair. Mr A -.y° un g (Chairman of Committees) utilised the Standing Orders regarding the tedious repetition to tighten the reins on obstructionists. He compiled a list of subjects which had been sufficiently discussed, informing members that, he would order them to resume their seats if they raised these forbidden topics. There appeared, however, to be numerous other reasons why the chairman should leave the chair, among them being that submitted by Mr Wright, one' of the most vigorous stonewallers, who deplored the fact that the • long talk had not converted anyone. There was, .however, some hope, he thought, in the conversion of the meriiber for Ohinemuri, Mr Poland. “Hope deferred niaketh the heart sick, ’ ’ said .Mr Isitt, who liad warned the Government about the rising tide of public opinion and the possibility of'hearing of resolutions from meetings protesting against increased gaming facilities. > He provided an amusing interlude when he produced a telegram on the subject. However lie. had to admit it was the wrong one, and eventually lie discovered the correct wire, but immediately the chairman realised it related to proceedings he ruled it out of order, amid laughter. The whole afternoon was spent without progress, hud the House adjourned for dinner with the question of the short title still undecided. It was discovered that the opposition forces, twenty-four in number, had reserved six of their most effective speakers for the difficult hours between midnight and the.breakfast adjournment. As one. of them put it: “We are organised on lines of perpetual motion.” (By Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. After the telegraph office closed the Committee of the House continued the discussion on clause 2. Mr. Wright intimated that he proposed to discuss the whole gambling question since the clause proposed to extend the use of the totalisator. Mr. Hockley (chairman) checked him in this course, ruling that he must confine himself strictly to the terms of the clause. Mr. Isitt asked that, the Speaker’s ruling he taken on the point. The Speaker said members must confine their remarks strictly to each clause under discussion, and that it was a well established rule that the chairman of committees was the sole judge as to their relevancy. At 1.35 a.m. Mr. Wright moved to delete the word “hunt’ 5 from a .clause with a view to limiting the issue of permits to trotting and racing clubs. Those who favoured the deletion of the word contended that hunt clubs had no courses of their own, and were parasites hanging on to racing clubs for the use of racing conveniences. The argument in favour of the retention of the word was, that hunt clubs tended to the encouragement of the most practical type of horse—an animal useful for cavalry purposes in time 'of war. -

Thus the debate proceeded verymuch in the nature of a circle until 8 a.m., when the committee adjourned for breakfast until 9.30 a.m.