328 Pieter Lawrence with a view to doing nothing. Our priority is to remove the threat which stands against us. We must not, and we will not, capitulate to the mob. Then we shall take the proper time to consider more carefully prepared steps. I speak positively I say we can resolve our difficulties, but not by being rushed into ill-fated measures which inevitably will only make our problems worse.” To a murmur of approval, Marjorie Tyler sat down. Unaware of his dishevelled appearance, Blake jumped to his feet and the Speaker indicated that he had the floor. Speaker, I should explain the unusual absence of the Prime “Mr. Minister and other members of the government Unit that has been operating with special responsibilities under the authority of this House. We have been detained at the head of the security forces, attempting to restore some order, and attempting to prevent our slide into irrecoverable chaos. I can tell you that the Prime Minister has carried a special burden. He has given everything of himself, day and night, and even now, his duties and those of the Home Secretary are preventing them from reporting to you from the front bench. We are now at a point when the responsibility for decisive action rests with you, the representatives of all our people. You are aware that as we debate this crucial amendment to our emergency powers, thousands of our security forces, police and troops, and thousands of our fellow citizens are suffering injury and even death. We do not know the numbers. All we know is that the list is not yet complete, and whether that final list will be numbered in many more thousands is being decided now by this House. I heard it said that the many people who are taking action on the streets and in other places are alien elements. Mr. Speaker, these are our fellow countrymen and women and we stand in great danger of being alienated from them. We are not here to serve ourselves, I know of no other reason for the existence of this House but to serve the interests of all our people. We have been urged not to rush into hasty measures, and to consider our actions carefully Mr. Speaker, I have read the carefully considered reports of our army commanders. I have participated
328 Pieter Lawrence with a view to doing nothing. Our priority is to remove the threat which stands against us. We must not, and we will not, capitulate to the mob. Then we shall take the proper time to consider more carefully prepared steps. I speak positively I say we can resolve our difficulties, but not by being rushed into ill-fated measures which inevitably will only make our problems worse.” To a murmur of approval, Marjorie Tyler sat down. Unaware of his dishevelled appearance, Blake jumped to his feet and the Speaker indicated that he had the floor. “Mr. Speaker, I should explain the unusual absence of the Prime Minister and other members of the government Unit that has been operating with special responsibilities under the authority of this House. We have been detained at the head of the security forces, attempting to restore some order, and attempting to prevent our slide into irrecoverable chaos. I can tell you that the Prime Minister has carried a special burden. He has given everything of himself, day and night, and even now, his duties and those of the Home Secretary are preventing them from reporting to you from the front bench. We are now at a point when the responsibility for decisive action rests with you, the representatives of all our people. You are aware that as we debate this crucial amendment to our emergency powers, thousands of our security forces, police and troops, and thousands of our fellow citizens are suffering injury and even death. We do not know the numbers. All we know is that the list is not yet complete, and whether that final list will be numbered in many more thousands is being decided now by this House. I heard it said that the many people who are taking action on the streets and in other places are alien elements. Mr. Speaker, these are our fellow countrymen and women and we stand in great danger of being alienated from them. We are not here to serve ourselves, I know of no other reason for the existence of this House but to serve the interests of all our people. We have been urged not to rush into hasty measures, and to consider our actions carefully Mr. Speaker, I have read the carefully considered reports of our army commanders. I have participated
the-last-conflict-pieter-lawrence.docx