WASTING TIME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 October 1924, Page 7

WASTING TIME.

CITIZENS PROTEST. AGAINST OBSTRUCTION TACTICS. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. .WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. A meeting of citizens to-day carried the following resolution: “That this meeting of representative citizens of AVellington congratulates the Prime Minister and the Government on the firm stand taken against the attempt being made by a small minority of extremists and others to defeat the will of Parliament, expressed by the many divisions (luring the last four sessions, and enters a strong protest against the waste of the time of Parliament at a huge cost to the country, involved in the undemocratic methods of obstruction now being pursued, and urges the Government and the stable elements of Parliament to maintain their determination to put the Bill through the House in the interests of democracy and constitutional Govemment. ’ ’ EMPTY WORDS. AVELLINGTON, Oct. 2. At 12.15 Mr. Parry announced that the adjournment bad been discussed at sufficient length and advised the mover to let a- division be taken. The question was then put and a division demanded. The division bells were rdng and supporters of the Bill flocked away to find when the question would be put a second time. ' No division was insisted on, and Hie word “hunt' was retained amidst the laughter of opponents of the Bill. Mr. Harris then moved that the •words “Minister of Internal Affairs” be eliminated, his object being to take away from the Minister the power to grant permits and to confer that power on the Governor-General. His reason for so moving was his complete lack of confidence in the Minister, who, throughout the debate on the Bill had given lie indication that he knew anything aibout racing matters. If this amendment were carried he proposed to supplement it with a proviso that no such permits shall have any effect until thev have been approved by the electors by way of a referendum. Mr. Sullivan stressed the advisability of taking the matter out of the hands of the Minister, because of the need of strict impartiality, 'and any Minister would be under grave temptations to which he should not be subject. Resides the present Minister might not always be in office, and indeed the present Government might not long remain in office. Discussion on the amendment was proceeding along these and similar lines. ‘ when the committee adjourned for lunch at 1 p.m.