OBSTRUCTION ADVOCATED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2666, 23 November 1909, Page 7

OBSTRUCTION ADVOCATED.

It seems to be pretty generally considered that the Government will not be displeased if Christmas finds the House adjourned until „June. There is no great volume of new legislation which can be called urgent. Tne_ country- does not require before Christmas new Acts dealing with the licensing poll, compulsory training, new taxation, or several other questions, but there is no excuse whatever for the lurtker postponement of the final settlement of the land question. The obvious duty of Mr Massey and the party of reform is to .ask that-the House and country shall, be t told without delay where the business of Parliament stands. Many of the Government’s proposals are hasty improvisations. Some have possibly not yet .-taken the form even of draft Bills- The hole-and-corner “agreement” upon the licensing legislation is one of these. One of the most important proposals of all (compulsory training) lias only been deckled upon since the Prime Minister’s return. In every constitutional country Supply may and should be obstructed or denied if the Government conceal or withhold information as «o the national finances. The same principle will justify—if, indeed, it does not demand—the strongest _ opposition to the transaction of business while the Government conceal or withhold their real legislative intentions. The obligation upon Mr Massey is plain. Ho must- insist 'on the fullest-'information at once, and, if must fight'at every opportunity afforded under 'the rules of parliamentary procedure to secure that the business shall be carried on on -sound And-business-like lines.— The “Dominion.” , . (