The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, MARCH Ist, 1923. THE NEW COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1923, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, MARCH Ist, 1923. THE NEW COMMONS.

The last election in Great Britain admitted to the House of Commons an unprecedented large number of Labour members. At first glance it might seem that such an influx ought to havo an important influence upon the House of Commons, but the special Parliamentary correspondent of “The Times” who writes in a recent, issue of that journal concerning the effect which tlm House of Commons lias had upon the new Labour members is probably recounting the effects of the major influence. fie talks of the ‘black squad ’

-the members from Clyde constituencies. “Their behaviour and place of origin." says the “Times” correspondent, “have suggested for them the nickname of the ‘Parliamentary black squad’, but- the impression one gets from meeting them is that they are not so black as they have painted themselves. They hold extreme views on all questions of social reform, but everyone to whom I have spoken has stated to me that the measure of his extremity is the limit of the Constitution, They Went to ennstitutinnnh tut*. Md hqf’uhg h<H I'appflird, IV?

state, to cause them to change. In this general remark I do not, of course, include Mr N'eubold. the Communist, who is a pariah among them. Tt is very interesting,” eaiitinuos ‘The Times” to note that of all the liisl impressions 1 have collected, the most constitutional view of the lot was expressed by Mr Kirkwood, ex-shop steward and deportee :tml the most violent member of the group, who starts quoting poetry in his angriest moments: ‘The last three weeks have taught me.’ said Mr Kirkwood, ‘that before we are going to do anything really efleetive ivo musi get a majority. The constitution and everything else arc such that unless we have a majority we are practically powerless. There is no chance at Westminister of making converts. I am one of those who believe we have to get the country behind us first. Tt. is not behind us at present. The west of .Scotland is behind us. If we can do that in the west of Scotland there is no reason why we cannot do it in other places as well.' Mr James Slewart, father of the group, a little man who started work in a barber’s shop at fourteen and now is the owner ef two large hairdressing establishments, said: ‘Parliament is a wonderful machine. It could not have been designed by any one individual or group of individuals; it is the work of all the ages that seems to have been designed with only one object, and that was to prevent real work being done. Right through the House there is an earnest desire to make things bettor than they are. On the one side there is knowledge got mainly from bitter experience of the conditions of the people, and on the other side there is a desire for change, and yet an anxiety to retain things as they are. which is an impossible paradox.”