THE PARLIAMENTARY STONEWALL.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXVIII, 15 September 1913, Page 3

THE PARLIAMENTARY STONEWALL.

Mr Hine in the Chair,

The special correspondent ot the Stratford " Post " in Wellington in referring to the recent " stonewall " pays a wann tribute to the merobe? for Stratford who occupied tho chair vacated by Mr A. S. Malcolm (Chairman of Committees) during a portion of the lime that the stouew&ll was in progress: The correspondent states that the temper of the House being what it was, both chairmen had a difficult task, and neither bad any cause to be ashamed of their share in the night's work. Mr Hine applifid more firmness and ingenuity to the tiresome problem of keeping members witbiu the limits of discussion than was warranted by tho Standing Ordsis. " Sit Down, Hatt!" On one occasion, Mr T. M. Wilford essayed to embark on one of those wandering but evasire disquisitions for which he is famous, but he had not gone far when the chairman issued a quiet warning. Another departure from the recognised track of discussion was quickly suppressed and next time Mr Hine rose it was to order the Member for Hutt to resume, his seat. Mr Wilford did it without more delay; Riccarton Turned Down, Tho next member to come, into collision with the chairman was Mr G. Witty, He in his turn was ordered to 6it down for persistently making reference to the report of the Inspector General of mental defectives, which was the subject that had been ruled outside the scope of the discussion of the moment, Bine's Unpitying Eye. There was a suggestion of the guillotine about Mr Hine's methods as chairman, but they were undeniably effective. Under his unpitying eye members perforce eschewed the little frivolities and excursions of fancy in which they are accustomed to indulge when the House is sitting all night, and, if they spoke, dealt with the subjects before the committee; The only alternative was to retain their seats and say nothing. Under treatment such as this, a stonewall is very apt to wither and die out, which -is exactly what it ought to do under Mr Malcolm's gentle handling.

Stonewall Proceeding.

At 11.50 on Saturday night Mr Massey rose and protested against this , •• silly and most unreasonable stonewall." He proceeded to review the events of the preceding thirty hours, ' but was compelled to resume his seat on a point of order by Mr T. M; Wilford, who asked if it were competent for the Prime Minister to review the doings of the House on a motion to report progress. For ten minutes Mr Massey endeavoured to make his speech, but each time b 9 got started he was interrupted with " point of order, Mr Chaiiman," until one minute to midnight, when the chairman left the chair, intimating that ho would resume at 2.30 to-day.