AND THE END NOT YET
An attempt by the Bon. W. F. Massey and the Government of •which he is the head, to force through the whole Internal Affairs vote (£331,303) at one sitting, without members being supplied with reports on which alone an adequate consideration of important departments of the class could be based, was frustrated by an active and vigilant Opposition on Friday and Saturday. Liberal members refused to be driven, and an impasse ensued, with the longest sitting during the present session of Parliament. Except for intervals for meals, the House (or rather, Committee of the whole) sat continuously from 2.30 p.m. on Friday till midnight on Saturday, and the “blockade” has'not yet been raised. The committee will resume at 2.30 this afternoon, and unless a compromise is reached) the prospects are for another all-night sitting. Time after time the “olive branch” of reasonable compromise was extended to the Prime Minister, but Mr Massey was obdurate and uncompromising. Trouble became acute’ when, after the Committee had passed thirteen votes in the class, the Mental Hospitals’ vote (£102,876) came up for consideration without any report being presented. After a persistent and effective fight by the Opposition, the Government produced what Mr Witty described as a “crude report,” hurriedly obtained from the Printing Office, on this department, but there were no copies for circulation. With unflagging zest and energy. Liberal members maintained the “blockade” till a minute to midnight, when the chairman left the chair.' It was a weary vigil for “Re’formers,” who were mostly mute, or somnolent through the proceedings. Apprehensive of a count-out or a snap defeat on division, the party whips were cracked over the team to keep them within hearing of the bells. Points of order were as thick as the “leaves on Valloipbrosa. At O.bo a.m. the end came—till to-day, and there was an enthusiastic outburst of hand-capping on the Liberal side, at the culmination of an effective refusal to be bounced and bullied. As the “Times” was going to press on Saturday, the High Commissioner a Office (£8534) was under consideration. ■ ~ , Sir Joseph Ward said he was m favour of limited immigration, but it was a matter requiring careful handling. The line required to be drawn very carefully, and he was certain that if indiscriminate immigration were allowed, there must be an effect upon the labour market, with unemployment. The country ought to encourage people with small families;- but the avenues of employment for casual workers were limited. It was a troublesomo and. difficult matter, and if they tried to populate the country too quickly, trouble would ensue, and the new arrivals would not bo absorbed quickly enough. Ho doubt in years New Zealand would be able to absorb a larger population, and it would bo a great mistake to have the labour market glutted during the six slack months. Ho did not believe in introducing a larger number than could be absorbed.
Mr G. W. Bussell (Avon) said lie did not think there would be any objection. to continuance of the 1 policy of assisting farm labourers and domestic servants. But if the policy of the Labour party was to block emigration altogether, be would not agree to it. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that the position now was that any resident of the Dominion could bring out relations by blood or marriage. The nominator put up £lO. The cost to the Government for each immigrant was £5 4b. The retrenchment occurred in 1908 and 1909. Sir Joseph Ward asked what connection the retrenchment had had with emigration. Did the Minister think that any one of the 4953 immigrants who came out in 1909 could have been stopped by the retrenchment? He had carefully avoided the bringing in of the actions of the past and present Governments in' this matter, but he would say that an unrestricted flow of immigrants even for a limited time would bo most unwise. The House divided at 3.10 a.m, on Mr Hindmarsh’s amendment to reduce the vote by £l, which was defeated by 29 votes to 21. THAT TIN SHED. Upon the Museum, total vote £3723, reached at 3.40 a.m., Mr G. W. Bussell hoped that they would not have any more of that tin shed erected on the corner of Museum street as a temporary structure. When the valuable collections were considered, and the quality of the building, they would agree that the arrangement was horrible. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said they hoped to secure valuable information regarding the site of the Museum from the Science and Arts Committee.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8525, 15 September 1913, Page 7
Word Count
768AND THE END NOT YET New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8525, 15 September 1913, Page 7
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