[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16 1913 THE STONEWALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2026, 16 September 1913, Page 4

[ESTABLISHED 1875.] Manawatu Daily Times The Oldest Manawatu Journal. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16 1913 THE STONEWALL.

So far as has been disclosed the atonewall, which has been in progress in the House of Representatives, does not seem to have been incited by anything that quite justifies the waste of time that has en- . sued. Sometimes a demonstration of Opposition strength in this way ultimately exercises a beneficial [ effect. It renders a Government ' c ? arv abo «fc attempts to force its | pleasures on the House. This stone--1 wall is the first demonstration the | Government have had of the or-

ganised strength of the Opposition. It may be taken as on intimation of the acceptance of Sir Joseph Ward of the position of Leader. The Government party papers now perceive some effect of that cohesion and organisation of the Opposition for which they were previously

yearning. But though the stone walling is not being conducted with the legitimate object of blocking legislation which might be considered undesirable, and b,d for the community, there is a certain principle involved. The Opposition complain that departmental reports have not been presented to enable them to discuss the estimates intelligently. These reports undoubtedly should be available. There can bi no possible excuse for withholding them. As a matter of fact Mr Massey when in opposition complained session after session about ihe same faulty pro-

cedure on the part of the Ward government, and he would accep* no excuses. The Opposition had a right to expect that Mr Maa?ey would have observed a principle he so strenuously laid down.