WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 245, 15 October 1920, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE GAMING BILL

A SUCCESSFUL STONEWALL,

(Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Ocfc. 13. The successful stonewalling of Mr

George Hunter's Gaming Bill in the House of Representatives through the v.-hole length of Monday night will nob bo remembered as a very edifying incident in the history of Parliament, even by people who sympathise with the purpose of the stone-wallers.; It was an exercise of brute fore® by a., minority consisting largely of members who on occasions are loudest in their demand for majority rule. They did nob pretend to nave as much as one-third of the voting strength of the: House on their side, and yet they held up to the bitter end a piece of legislation .which they knew twothirds of the members desired. Of course, this-is not the first instance of minority obstruction, but the prece*dents being quoted by the stonewallers' apologists are drawn from a period when Parliament did not rest on it's present democratic basis. THE STANDING ORDERS/ One good purpose will be served by the incident in emphasising the need for a further revision of the Standing Orders. ,The New Zealand Time«, after roundly denouncing the stone»wallers, stresses this point. ''The peculiar, combination of undesirable qualities," it says, "obtained, the encouragement of victory. That baselyuoh victory reveals the weakness of the Standing Orders of the House It shows them, to< be not the safeguard of discussion they were intended to he, but an'instrument of the arbitrary despotism they were devised to make impossible. The framers have ample latitude, relying on the honesty, fair play and broadmindedness oi: tho members to play the game decently. Monday night's revelation shows Low wrong was this generosity of latitude by providing instances of flagrant disregard of everything but selfish opinion." The Prime Minister expressed himself much to the same effect when he intervened on Tuesday morning v ith bis suggestion for the appointment of a Commission to review the subject of the Bill. THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. But, while responsibility for the persistent obstruction must rest/upon the stone-wallers alone, it has to be admitted that the friends of the measure were not well treated by the Government. The Bill was. kept at the bottom of the Order Paper till the high pressure period of tho session had begun, and then it was given its: opportunity only on the express stipulation that it must pass through ail its stages at a, single sitting. This condition, ns was demonstrated in the event, made it easy for the obstructionists, to keep all their forces in tho front lino and to stay the progress of t!)G meusiure at a hundred points. .Mr Milliter got no assistance from the Government, rather hindrance, and the Minister, for Internal Affairs actually joined hands with the Opposition. The- Member for Waipawa. was not given the "fair run" he had been promised. • POPULAR OPINION. j But apart from n.ll this, which has* j to do with Parliament and politicians, I rather than with the public, there is j not a great deal to regret in the early j (kMniso of the Bill. The popular | opinion here is that^ there arc quite enough totalisator licenses issued in the : country, and that a revision ol: their distribution would meet all the needs of the ease. The revision, however, would be a very disagreeable task for either the Government or the Racing Conference to undertake, and ifc will not be attempted unless the Commission promised by Mr Massey ?ives the Cabinet fin authoritative and very definite lead. Hard things woro -aid about the Racing Conference during the continuous stream of talk )n Monday night and its constitution iVisiy be' open to critieisni, but among ix:oplc who know it still is regarded is a. safer guide in this matter than .vould be the politicians.