THE CHANGING SCENE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 6

THE CHANGING SCENE.

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW. [Bi M.C.K.] "This Budget debate," said tho intelligent foreigner. "My old, I you demand, why does ono oppose it?" "They're a rotten Government," said tho Wardilc. "Did I not prophesy that this doggish Massoy would turn traitor? It is true, then, that ho seeks to restore the Middlu Ages? By bluo! To destroy ail things! What crimo! But, my old, ono can prevent the evil deeds announced in tho Budget, not so? Aro you enngad, dear Mister? Let us be angry together." "Massoy stole all our policy,'' said tho Wardist."But I not comprehend. This jolitics is bewildering. Does ho (hen prepeso what Sir Bart proposed?" "Yes, the cow," said the Wardist. "Should ono not rejoice, then? Ho will then givo us tho. policy magni'ieout. Well did, the Government! I broatho again. Ono tells me Sir Rickety, in voice rapid and piercing, denounced tho Budget; that Sir Bart moaned and Hod to Kiocarton, crying aloud bo bitterly that the horses, startled, fell over tho steeples of tho chase; that Sir Ell and Sir Lauronson. terrified tho galleries with their wrath. I ring up immediately the police, but tho police refuse to listen to me. How it is fine, my old, lo kiiow ono told mo lies. Then Sir Bart and Sir-Josiah Hambono aro choiring Sir Massey. Thing admirable! Sir Rickety is become a Masseyito. How it is to rejoice!" "Oh, no," said the Wardist, "the Opposition is going to oppose the Budget." "Dear Mister, I will give up the po'itic. Bless it all, I seek always to comprehend, but I comprehend nothing. Ki'thing of all; except that Sir Burt and Sir Rickety are the Opposition. But perhaps in comprehending that, I comprehend all. Not so, my old?" "'

Apologising for having inadvertently stated that two gentlemen had beeu found guilty of forgery, when as a matter of fact, they had been fined for allowing their chimneys to catch fire or something, the "Greymouth Argus and blackball News" expresses tho hopo that the gentlemen concerned will regard tho'blunder "as being no more than ono of those curious slips that will sometimes occur in the rush of modem colonial journalism." _ That is why wo left Greymouth and camo here: We could not stand tho pace.

A Labour leader this week spent sometime in explaining to a. Minister that "what the deputation wanted was not that tho co-operative system of public works construction should be abandoned, but that it should be worked on really co-operative lines." Real co-operation, as everyone knows, means tho payment of .CI ;a day to every worker whether he works or not. Similarly, it is not the abolition of-- arbitration . that Labour dosires, but tho abolition of that degraded and imperfect form of arbitration which so frequently lcads'.to the rejection of a union's demands. When, again, Labour says it objects to taxation, it does not mean that it objects to real taxation. .To do so would be absurd—for how, without real taxation, would tho State bo able to pay the salaries of Labour.M.P.'s? Real taxation is the taxation of non-unionists of all sorts and kinds, and it is a mistake to think 'that the Labour parly objects to that. A great many people fancy that the Labour party is tho enemy of property, an undiscriminating hater of Capital. As a matter of fact, what tho Labour party objects to is, that property which is really not property in any strict Ecnse: to wit, the property of non-Labour people. Labour, indeed, is thoroughly reasonable when' you look into tho matter. Even when it says that it hates tho wage-system, it does not mean that it hates wages. What it means is that it objects to all tho irrelevant ingredients of tho A true and perfect wage-system would consist solely of the payment of wages. At present tho system is vitiated by the existence of work as ono of its elements.

Mr. F. M. D. Fisher's ' announcement that ho will call a conference of boot manufacturers and boot operatives, with tho object of settling tho boot-making problem was being discussed in the tram. "Yus, that's the way," said tho redfaced man. . " 'Ave it out fair an' square." "My dear Sir," said tho man with chin whiskers, who had been reading the "Bopt Trade Journal," "there will be no quarrelling. An admirablo idea, I think. After all, the interests of capital and labour are not opposed. A bit more friendly co-operation and 'annony—ahem!—harmony, and, bless your 'cart—heart, there would be no trouble." "Dunno about all that, Mister," said the man with tho bottle-shaped parcel, "I'm a clicker nieself. But w'y, I say, w'y, I ask yer—tell me, w'y shouldn't a dooty go hon boots, ter enable us blokes tcr get part of tho profits. Answer me." "Indeed," said the stout man opposite him, "I rejoice to find Mr. Fisher seeking to promote- those friendly and sympathetic relations between employers and employed, tho want of which has in the past promoted such serious dislocations of industry and engendered so much bitterness and antagonism, such as you, Mr, Speaker—ahem!—such as you—" "Yes," interrupted tho red-faced man, "my" sentiments to a T." "Excuse me," said tho little thin, faded person hanging on a strap, "but I'm afraid I dislike Mr. Fisher's idea. He should make his conference represcnta"So he has," chorused tho others. "Of all parties," tho little man continued. "So he has, fathead," they shouted. "— including me," the little man concluded. "Who are you? An importer?" asked the man with chin whiskers. "No," said tho little man. "I'm only a consumer."