GAGE OF BATTLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8525, 15 September 1913, Page 8

GAGE OF BATTLE

LIBERALS NOT TO BE “BOUNCED AND BULLIED.” Mr G. J. Anderson (Mataura) throw 'tho fat in the hro when ho expressed his hope that the Prime Minister ■would nut budge an inch, and innint upon passing the whole class. This was the gage of battle, and new acrimony and determination was infused into the who’o business. At 4,25 a.in., Sir Joseph Ward moved to report progress. It was all very well, ho said, for tho Prime Minister iU> make a threat, but they were not there to bo bounced and bullied. He believed it was a mistake to drive on till 6 or 8 o’clock in the morning, and the Prime Minister was inviting prolonged stay till 12 o’clock at night. This was not the way to help tho Opposition to get the Estimates through. Upon division, tho motion was defeated by 2D votes to 18, and Mr Mas vey remarked that there were previous yulinga that, once a class had been undertaken, it could not bo postponfld.

Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) said that the annual report of the Mental Hos'pitnls should bo before the committee an these Estimates. Ho wanted to know what had been don© regarding overcrowding at the asylums, and what, was to bo done in the future. 'There were still patients sleeping in the corridors; there was still the nnilerstaffing. If they wanted to attract people to .do work which was offensive to most people, they would have to x ,a .7 them better. The patients in these institutions should be ■given every comfort and treated with the utmost human kindness. At 4.45 a,in- Mr McCallnm (Wairau) challenged the Prime Minister to subsjtantiato his statement that once a Hass -of the Estimates was started it rould not be postponed. Tho Prime Miniser said that in the ■'‘Rulings in Committee” there was a clause to this effect. Mr Russell: What’s the authority for •fflbnf?

Mr Massey; It's the practice of tho

‘House of Representatives. Mr Russell; That’s no authority. Tho House, ho said, could surely, by resolution, have progress reported. The Chairman ruled that a class could not bo postponed, but progress could be reported. GREETINGS OF DAWN.

. At 5 a-m. Air Russell moved to reduce tho .salary of the Inspec-tor-General of Mental Hospitals by £1 as a protest against that officer’s report not heing available to the House. The attempt to force the Estimates through was merely a trick on the part of the Government—and a rorv poor trick at that. The Hon. 11. H. Rhodes said that ho had only just received the report, and it was in the hands of the printer. It was not fair criticism to say ho had iho report in his possession and was purposely holding it back. At A. 30 tho light of day was strengthening, and the blinds were ■raised, admitting the prde glow of dawn, which increased as the minutes wore on. Some benches were deserted; upon others sleepy legislators wore stretched full length. The usual accompaniments of an all-night sitting were not so pronounced, however. There were not so many audible yawns, .and a general feeling of comparative freshness pervaded the cnambor. Shortly before 6 a.m. the sonorous rumble of tho Minister of Railways , jlaalpep) became somewhat conspicuous, mid .tho chief Government Whip gave him a gentle call back to consciousness, upon which ho sat up and stared round sleepily. It was a good-humour-ed House, and tho discussion proceeded with sundry callings to order by the acting-chairman (Mr J. B. Hino) for members who wandered from the particular 'scope of tho class under discus-

e.:cr.. Mr T. M. Wilford entertained members who were awako with somo detailed descriptions of asylum cases that had come under his notice. Ho made a skilful use of certain, medical terms, at which “ Reformers ” .guffawed loudly. Messrs Witty and Isitt continued the dissuasion, while the Minister looked tired and liored. Daylight rapidly flooded the chamber, overpowering tho electric bulbs along the ceiling. ‘ BLUNDERING INCAPACITY.” . "Mr Isitt dwelt at length upon tho overcrowded condition of many of the mental hospitals,, and. upon the blundering -ncapacity of the Reform Government. 'Tho Opposition would be ’w cii vo their protest j he saitf, if tho Government admitted their incapacity. During these Opposition invectives, tho patience of “ Reformers ” was exhausted at sundry stages and occasions. The Minister of Public Health left the Chair at the left of the chairman, and ■was temporarily relieved by the Minister of Finance. Mr Malcolm retired for rest about 3 a.m., having eat almost continuously since 3.30 p.m. the previous afternoon. He was relieved hy Mr J. B. Hine, M.P. for Stratford. ! At 7.10 o-m., the Hon. A. T. Ngata suggested that they should got on with the business—(heavy hear)—and allow the question to bo put. Ho suggested that they should finish tho Tourist and Health Resorts vote. It was a pity to spend “this beautiful day” indoors. (Brilliant sunshine showed against the windows, upon which tho blinds were drawn.) The Hon. B. H. Rhodes thought there was nothing contentious in the Public Service Commissioners’ vote. “THEY HAVE ALL DAY!” Mr Massey: No, they have all d»y to discuss them. Mr Hindmarsh quoted an instance to show that there was a danger of making people permanent lunatics. An asylum was not altogether a place of incarceration, lack of funds crippled the proper working of hospitals. He urged separate treatment for incipient lunatics. Mr G; W. Russell pointed out that tho whole gravamen of ,tho offence the Government was committing in endeavouring to force these Estimates through was tho absence of information on these institutions, in which thousands of people were lodged. Tho report was in existence, and was in tho printing office. Ho wonted to know- whether the shocking overcrowding he had himself seen while Minister still existed. Tho amendment was defeated on the voices. “LOOKS LIKE A PARCHED PEA.” Mr G. Witty, at 7.30 a.m., moved that the salary of the Resident Medical Superintendent, Auckland, be reduced by £2O, as an indication that the Auckland Hospital and all other institutions, were overcrowded. five minutes later;-Mr A. S. Malcolm resumed his scat as chairman, and was greeted with some hand clap-

ping. A few minutes ofterwards a Government member began to hum a popular song, but Mr Witty went on with a good attacking speech not in tho least perturbed. Mr Rhodes remarked that no good could come of tho amendment to reduce the vote, as ho had already admitted that there was overcrowding at these institutions. At a few minutes to 8 a little diversion was caused by Mr Wilford telling the chairman that, if ho might say so, ho looked like a parched pea. Would tho Prime Minister go for a walk in tho sunlight, inquired Mr Wilford, or have a cup of coffee with him and see if a compromise could bo come to? Later Mr Wilford described the chairman, amidst general hilarity, as looking like a daisy with the dew off. The breakfast adjournment at 8 a.m. was greeted with loud approval by both sides of tho House.