THE STONEWALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 24 November 1913, Page 4

THE STONEWALL.

MEMBER FOR AVON GETS WILD AND TAJbKS OF SHAMS AND HUMBUGS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Last Night. The House of Representatives,, which adjourned at 8.20 on Saturday morning, resumed at 2.30 p.m., when the Hon. A. T. Ngata moved to report progress.' He pointed out that 2-1 hours had elapsed since a similar motion had been moved. The motion was talked to till 9.20 when it was lost, and tho debate was resumed on the short title of the Bill. At 11 .lo p.m. Mr G. W. Russell rose to {Jenounce the Bill as a sham and a Immlwg. He explained that it 1 purported'to create the office of Deputy Clerk of Parliaments; hut as n, matter of fact there was no such per- ; son known to our law as tho Clerk of Parliaments, and there were no statutory duties for the officer to ! perform. The Bill had heen passed through the other Chamber for tin l purpo.se of sneaking into it an important amendment of our constitution, which could not be passed in' any other wnv. When the Bill was returned to "the other place, the members there would only be able to deal with tho amendments made in it, and by this triek the Government were able to obviate, the. discussion which would have taken place on tlio second reading, committee stage, ami . third reading had the amendment I been brought down in a separate * Bill. He defied the Minister of Justice, who was a lawyer, to deny the/ „ accuracy of his contention that them was no such an officer as the Clerk ■of Parliament. The Bill was' obp of! the most scandalous flukes and shams ever brought before the Parliament of this country. The Bill had eonio down from the other place on the 19th of last month, and had; been kept in suspense ;so that it might be used to> surreptitiously repeal the second ballot. Hon. members: "Tliev can't deny it!" Speaking directly to the Hon. A: L. Herdman, Mr Russell challenged him to show where the officer or office of Clerk of Parliaments existed, except in the clauses of this Bill. Tho posal was an outrage on the people, jP and was nothing but a shallow humbug. The House rose at 11.52 till 2.30 on Monday.