SCRIBBLING PAD NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1929, Page 7

SCRIBBLING PAD NOTES

(By N.) Air ?. Fraser (Wellington Central) says we want a more close definition of what is meant by “ worker.” Quite so, and when this is obtained it is just possible we may go further and get a definition of what is meant by “labor. ’ While the motto of the Liberal Party is “the government of the people, by the people, for the people,” the motto of the Labor Party is “ the government of the' people by the worker, for the worker.” The issue becomes somewhat involved, however, when even the labor leaders are hazy as to what is meant by “ worker.” Russia, under the “dictatorship of the proletariat,” the ultimate aim and avowed object of labor extremists, is apparently well in advance of all other countries in affording facilities for divorce. According to the law in Russia, apparently, any husband or wife without notifying each other can go to a certain department of a Russian consulate abroad and register a divorce which operates immediatelyand is absolute. A member of the Russian bar in reply to a question by Air Justice Hill said even if one partv opposed the application no attention would be paid to the protest. How long it will be before the present so-called “Labor” Government of Great Britain breaks up' Into its com. ponent- parts is a matter of speculation. ■ Apparently it will not be very long, as Miss Bondfield, as Minister . f Labor, has been threatened that unless, before ’Xmas increased -unemployment: benefit rates—to the extent of approximately £12,500,000 a year—be introduced 50 labor members will enter the |obby against the Government. It Is understood that Air Snowden has declared that if the disloyalty of Labor members jeopardises the Cabinet he will not carry on, but will resign. It is quite easy to understand therefore why the lender of the Opposition, Air Stanley Baldwin, in a speech to members of the Junior Imperial League said lie hoped the next election would not come too soon. Every student of political economics should know that labor is not a political party definition at all, or as a well-known writer puts it—labor is politically unrepresentable. But a practicable demonstration is more effective than any theoretical arguments. When the “Labor” oart.v cracks up into its component elements—as it must inevitably do sooner or later it is consoling to know that from it will emerge several statesmen of whom the country may well be proud. Whatever the policy of the Australian Labor government may develop into evidently compulsory military training is to be done away with and Air Scullin has already given notice to move in this direction. The policy of “labor” is definite in one direction: No man must be forced to train to fight for king and country-only to “scrap” for the interests of his own “ class.”

“ Keform ” supporters are making themselves rather prominent just now probably with the vague idea that the Coates party has some chance of returning to power after the next election. . This must be very satisfactory ho the Holland party, as the only possible chance “labor” has of obtaining power in New Zealand politics is by the weakening of the United Liberals which “ Reform ” is making strenuous efforts to bring about. Scull ill’s new labor government in Australia is abolishing the licensing system under which shipping companies were able to keep tally on waterside workers, • weed out undesiraV.es amt employ volunteer workers. There is evidently going to he a repetition of the “good old times” on the Australian waterfront.

The British Home Secretary, Hon. J, R. Clynes had only a primary Board school education. He left school when lie was 13, and had only , been a half? time attendant from the age off 10, when lie started work in a mill. He is entirely a “ self-educated ” man and one of the big army of those whose struggle against poverty in youth developed traits of character which made them leaders in after years. Educationalists please note !

A visitor from Australia last week says: The timber strike is, of course, finished, but the difficulty is, now that the men are willing to go hack, there ,is hardly anything.for most of them to do.”

The Government has been likened to a dog with two tails—the Reform tail and the Labor tail. Neither tail can Avag tlie dog, and the joint efforts off tails are futile as their periods of oscillation do not synchronise.