AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 71, 16 November 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

STONEWALL TACTICS. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) pUnited Press Association.) Melbourne, November 15. In the House the discussion, on the Estimates was productive rf a record stonewall. Starting at 10.30 on A\ oilnesday morning, the House has been sitting continuously since, with short breaks .for meals. The trouble started with. the Government’s determination to force the Estimates through, even if it kept the House sitting until Saturday night. The principal idea, however, behind the Onpositiop’s attitude was that the Government was endeavouring to prevent the adoption this session of a redistribution of seats. The Opposition showed much strategy, providing relays of speakers and harassing the Government continuously by calling attention to the state of the House. To meet the difficulty, the Ministerialists former a chair circle in an adjoining room. When the bolls rung they waited till the sand had almost run out, and then‘marched in and out again without taking their seats. All sorts of points were raised and subjects discussed to keep the ball rolling. Once, when the boll rang, a member carried in bis supper on a plate,'with a knife and fork, and continued bis meal. The question whether ho was in order led to a fruitful discussion. Tlio chairman decided that he had a right to eat. Another member suggested to send for Speaker Willis to straighten out the tangle. Urgent wires were sent to absent members on both sides to come and assist in the blockade. Finally, when all were worn out, including Hansard, a compromise was reached at four o’clock this afternoon, when the stonewall was raised and part of the Estimates passed. The Government agreed that the debate should be resumed on Tuesday, and the House adjourned. IRONWORKS AND IMMIGRATION. Sydney, November 45. In the Assembly, on the third reading of the Bro’ken Hill Proprietary Ironworks Bill, fourteen*Labour members, headed by Mr. Meagher, defied the caucus decision and voted against the Government. In the House the Opposition complained of the defective administration of the immigration restriction law in the case of Chinese. They asserted that Australian naturalisation papers were sold wholesale in Hongkong ancl Singapore, and were easier to obtain than pound notes.