There seemed, early on Wednesday morning (nine a.m.), no reason
why the struggle should not be protracted to Saturdliy, or, indeed, why it should cease at any time ; but at 9.30, the Speaker, who had been in consultation with the leaders on both sides, decided to exert his latent power as mouthpiece of a House which has a right to settle its own procedure. Briefly bidding Mr. .Biggar, who held the floor, resume his scat, the Speaker rose, and in words of rare dignity declared that the motion for leave to bring in the Protection Bill had now waited five days, and that a continuous sitting had lasted forty-one hours, during which an inconsiderable minority of Members had " resorted to methods of obstruction recognised. as a Parlia- mentary offence." "The credit and authority of this House are seriously threatened, and it is necessary that they should be vindicated. Under the operation of the ac- customed rules and methods of procedure, the legisla- tive powers of the House are paralysed. A new and excep- tional course is imperatively demanded," and he should there- fore decline to call on more Members to speak, and proceed at once to put the question. The question was then put, and carried by 164 to 19.
