THE LOOSE REIN

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 September 1930, Page 4

THE LOOSE REIN

UNSUCCESSFUL PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS.

SESSION’S END UNCERTAIN

(By Telegraph—Special to “The Star-”' WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. The desire of the average Parliamentarian to bring the session’s business to a speedy close was eloquently expressed in the' House yesterday when a Government proposal to accord urgency to the passage of various estimate classes was supported by 51 votes to 16. In answer to questions the acting- , Prime Minister (Hon. E. A. Ransom) intimated that an attempt would be made to conclude the session on Saturday, October 11. .Discussion on the subject was provoked by the action of the Government in inaugurating Monday sittings as from next weeK and an inquiry was made by Mr H. E. Holland (leader of the Labour Party) whether the actingPrime Minister had in mind any specific date on which he wished to terminate the proceedings. In Mr Hollands opinion it was useless altering the standing orders if the House had no definite objective in view. What was needed was a three-party agreement towards' some sort of system and arrangement that would facilitate the business o_f the-House.

“My object in taking Mondays was definitely to bring about the close of the session in a reasonable period,” replied the acting-Prime Minister. fill* P. Fraser JWellington Central) : What date have you fixed for the end of the session? The acting-Prime Minister said he was so endeavouring to carry the programme out to enable the session to finish on October 11. He had previously hoped to finish on October 4. but he had had to forego that date. When the ordinary standing orders had been tried the progress made had been very poor and apparently the House worked better under pressure than under a loose rein.

Mr Fraser: A minority Government lias to put up with the disadvantages of its minority. When'the acting-Prime Minister asked the House shortly afterwards to give urgency to the passage of the Railway, Labour, Internal Affairs, Industries, Tourist and other votes, he was greeted with the query.: “Are these for the day or the week?” Expressing his personal, opinion Mr Holland said he would oppose urgency as the House had sat late enough at the previous sitting. The acting-Prime Minister said he did not wish to drive the House in any sense, but his fear was that unless urgency were granted, sufficient progress would not be made at the sittings.

“I am asking for urgency so that we may have some control over the House,” Mr Ransom said. On a division the motion to accord urgency was carried by 51 votes to 16. The majority of the Reform Party and several Labour members! voted with the Government against Mr Holland, at whose instance the House divided.