The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 2, 1910. UNDIGNIFIED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 873, 2 August 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, August 2, 1910. UNDIGNIFIED.

We are under the impression that when persons occupying or aspiring to dignified positions refer to their fellows by Christian and familiar nick-names, a service or vote is the objective. Is it not a fact that at election times political candidates and their touts come right down when meeting a horney-handed brother —whom otherwise they scarcely recognise —with the glad smile, and pumphandle him with the expression ; ‘‘Well, Bill, old chap, how are you ? Come and have a drink !” Such greeting may be undignified, but it wins votes —sometimes. A politician, or a tout, who works on these lines is a snob and a hypocrite. But this is a side issue. According to the “ Dominion,’’the dignity of Parliament has been lowered by members addressing each other by their Christian names. Our contemporary says that among the offenders it regrets to note the Deader ot the Opposition himself. “ Oh, you are very unhappy, Tom,” he interjected on one occasion whilst the Hon. T. Mackenzie was speaking. Not long afterwards the Minister was addressed in equally familiar terms by Mr Davey, who called out : ‘‘ Speak up, Tom, we can’t hear you over here,” In the course of his speech, Mr Dive, who followed, was subjected to a series of interjections by Mr Hanan. “ Oh, leave him alone, Joe,” cried out Mr Colvin, who was seated at some distance. The next step, adds the Dominion, will be for members to familiarly question the Prime Minister as ‘‘Joe,” and to direct their attacks not at the Deader of the Opposition, but at “ Bill,” while the rank and file, when addressing one another, may well descend to the adoption of such playful sobriquets as “Whiskers” or “Cold Tea” or “ Slim Jim,” or anything else equally light and fanciful. Surely members must see that the loose ways that are growing up are not only entirely out of keeping with the dignity ot Parliament, but are liable to end in unpleasant personalities, if not trouble of a more serious kind.