FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 12

FIFTY YEARS AGO

PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS Although 50 years ago Xew Zejfand had experienced a comparatively short period of Parliamentary rule on the English model, the following extracts taken from a message sent by the Wellington correspondent of the Xew Zealand Herald, and which appeared on February 6. 1888, show that the country had already had difficulties and troubles:—

"The Government is very .seriously impressed with the conviction that 'he danger t'o the.public interest from harried legislation should not be permitted to recur, and that stringent measures must be taken to render the repetition of last session's disgraceful obstruction impossible. To this end, according to the Times of this morning, the first business of the ensuing session will be the consideration or amended Standing Orders providing for a large alteration of the system of procedure framed expressly to minimise the above nuisance. The three inconvenient expedients known as 'the stonewall,' 'the count out,' and 'the motion for adjournment' are to be provided against. The Government will appropriate three days a week instead of two for public business. "Then there is a proposal that Parliament shall hold its sittings bv day. The question of the adoption of the closure is also to be considered. Although the above programme is ft 'long shot' 011 the part of the editor of the local morning paper, I believe there is just a spark of truth in it.. 1» is admitted that the existing Standing Orders, excellent as they were when first compiled, do not cover all cases of irregularity to which Parliamentary experience testifies as incident to party warfare."