The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1932. "GETTING THINGS DONE.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19301, 30 September 1932, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1932. "GETTING THINGS DONE.”

If all Members or the House of Representatives are genuinely anxious to “get on with the business,” it would be possible t.o conclude the Address-in-Reply debate to-night, without any loss to the country, but rather a genuine gain, for time is wasted each session in providing facilities for the talkers in Parliament to take precedence to the workers. In former Parliaments, it was found necessary to encourage members on all sides to talk —particularly among the Opposition—and thus afford a breathing space for the Government of the day in which to contemplate the diverse views of its supporters and its, opponents, a.s well as provide a period of comparative freedom from political storm and verbal strife in which to frame the legislation intended for the immediate consideration of the House. Under existing circumstances, in view of the lateness of the session and the comprehensive and important nature of the legislative programme the Government has in mind, any protracted debate on the Address-in-Reply is pure waste of valuable time. The speeches of the mover and seconder of the Addrees-lh-fteply resolution followed traditional lines, and the House adjourned before it had been in session a couple of hours. The Opposition, as is its right, has submitted the customary no-confidence motion, and has delivered the customery speeches, in which the Government is roundly condemned and not a single syllable of acknowledgment is made of the certain measure of success that has been attained by the Government in shouldering the enormity of the burden that has been borne by all administrators the world over, during the prolonged period of economic and financial stress. Row that Mr Holland, as the mouthpiece of the supporters of the Labour Party, has had his say, no more time ought to be wasted in futile talk. The position of the Government is so strong, if heads are counted in the House, that no-confidence motions on general lines are doomed to defeat; indeed, it would savour of the farcical if Members who had been elected to support the Coalition were to go over to the Opposition in the first, division in the first regular session. Such somersaulting has been witnessed on rare occasions, only to bring political extinction to the offenders. The speech of the Leader of the Opposition in submitting Labour’s no-confidence motion was obviously strained and unconvincing, and painfully lacking in punch. Mr Holland is beginning to realise that there are growing evidences the world over that confidence is returning,! and that hardly suits the critics of Governments. It is not anticipated, of course, that the whole world will swing into the sunlight of a new era of prosperity as the Earth swings into the lifegiving rays of the Sun each morning. The economic sickness of the world has been too serious for sudden recovery; nevertheless, the magnificent record of Britain, since some of Mr Holland’s friends were sent into opposition, has had such a salutary effect on the fortunes of the British Commonwealth of Rations and such a tonic effect on the world, that the immediate outlook bears a much brighter appearance. The House of Representatives ought to insist upon the speeding up of the Parliamentary machine. October will be with us tomorrow, and to all appearances the House is in a talking mood. So much water has flowed under the bridge since the close of the emergency session that the House of Representatives will find itself confronted with a heavy legislative programme, with the session going rapidly into the hot summer. In the concluding stages of each session indignant protests are voiced by the talkers, if the Government attempts to speed up the work of Parliament and impose longer hours of the sittings upon Members. It is under such circumstances that the frayed nerves of tired and distracted legislators give way under the pressure. Obviously, it is at the beginning of each session that the House of Representtaives should seriously view its desponsibilities “to get things done.” Doubtless the average Member of Parliament feels impelled to put his views in print in Hansard for the edification of electors who can find time to peruse the pages of the records of Parliamentary debates. But since no curb is put on the tongues of members when legislation is before the House, it is not too much to ask of all the Members of the House that they withhold their observations pending various measures coming before the House for consideration and approval or rejection. Quite useful service can be rendered by Parliament during the forthcoming session, if it con-' centrates on the legislative work in prospect. It may not be possible at. the moment to dispense with the customary Speech from the Throne, but Members of Parliament have it ih their hands to put an end to the unconscionable delay that takes place at the opening of each session because members who are fresh from their electorates persist in talking at every opportunity that offers.