A STONEWALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11, 13 September 1913, Page 5

A STONEWALL.

HOUSE SITS ALL NIGHT.

STRATFORD IN THE CHAIR

(By Special Correspondent)

. Wellington, September 12. In a Party battle such as kept the House of Representatives

sitting all through last night, a great deal depends on the president of the Chamber for the time being. On tins occasion, the arduous task was divided

Mr A. S. Malcolm (Chairman of Committees) retired from the chair at o o’clock in the morning, and was replaced for the next couple of hours by Mr J. B. Hine, Member for Stratford.

Nothing to bs Ashamed of

The temper of the House being what it was, both, chairmen had a difficult task, and neither had any cause to he ashamed of their share in the night's work. .Air Hinp applied more firmness and ingenuity to the tiresome problem of keeping members within the limits of discussion than was warranted by the Standing Orders. “Sit Down, Kutt!" On one occasion, Mr T. M. Wilford essayed to embark on one of those wandering but evasive 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. Ricoarton Turned Down. The next member to come into collision with the chairman was Mr G. Witty. He in his turn was ordered to sit down for persistently making reference to the■report of the Inspec-tor-General of men' al defectives, whichwasthe subject that had been ruled outside the scope of the discussion of the moment. * Nine’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 ■ cbnmittoe;-. ■ The* only alternative was ltd retain their seats and say: nothing. Under treatment such as tlifife, ; jU stonewall is* Very .apt to wither and die out, which is exactly what it ought to do under Mr Malcolm’s gentle handling. (He resumed the chair at 7.30 a.m. to-day. Still Going Strong. The stonewall is going on steadily at the time of; writing. Despite. The severity of his methods Mr Hine received a round of applause from the Opposition on leaving the chair.