PARLIAMENTARY INNOVATION.

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1944, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY INNOVATION.

ON the eve of the assembling of the new Parliament there was heard a unanimous wish by Press and public that the waste of time invariably associated with the debate on the Address-in-Reply to the Governor-General’s Speech from the Throne would not occur on t his occasion. This wish was evidently heeded by the leaders of the Government and the Opposition, for, with the exception of the Minister for Supply, for the Government, and Mr. Holland, for the Opposition, there was maintained a silence by front benchers which seems to have caused surprise. The rank and file, on the other hand, were apparently determined that the country should not be deprived the opportunity of hearing and reading their views on all manner of subjects, pertinent and otherwise, to the work of the session. As a consequence, the debate continued until yesterday, when it ceased dramatically, ministers and leading members of the Opposition persisting in the silence that had marked their attitude towards the debate. Whether this may be taken as an indication of party tactics to be adopted during the remainder of the session remains to he seen, but there will be a general hope that work, not talk, will characterise the session and set an example for the future of Parliamentary procedure in this country.