POLITRICKS

NZ Truth, Issue 1142, 20 October 1927, Page 4

POLITRICKS

A ULD LANG RESIGNS,

AS an excuse for the shameful "sweating" of Members to the detriment of good Government and considered legislation, Prime Minister Coates says: "I only ask for co-opera-tion." It is at once palpable that his so-called "co-operation" would be nothing but milk-sop, silent acceptance of everything stupid and wise a neurotic Government would thrust, without discussion, on an unsuspecting and long-suffering public. A great argument, this, for regular sittings. # * * TN their argument that the proposed •*■ increase of five per cent, in the general tariff on apparel and readymade clothing was insufficient to' protect local enterprise, the Opposition wisely pointed out that the increase would not afford protection but simply raise revenue. The fact is that imported clothing (ready-made) exceeds the amount of locally made by 300 per cent. j * * * "THE Bible-in-Schools controversy A seems to be allowed a tremendous run in Parliament and Press. This much for it, though: If it does not go through this year, there is a good chance of its getting the proverbial cold shoulder for all time — unless the sponsor has the tenacity of a Sidey. * # • SOMETIMES -when a Prime Minister goes to the country, he sta\>s there. * * • ACCORDING to the Prime Minister, licensing should be discussed, could be discussed, and even might be discussed, this session. « * • MEMBERS seemed a good deal concerned over the question of lemons. One could understand a certain amount of justifiable doubt as to the New Zealand melons in Parliament. * * * TN raising the question of time pay - A ments and the credit system with the possibility of some definite legislative regulation, Sir Thomas McKenzie might quite easily stir up a hornet's nest. The credit system stands both as a blessing and a danger, but where the line can be drawn is difficult to say. Many people are getting homes together by this means and many are swayed by thoughtless speculative instincts which only plunge them into debt all round. It is an extremely debatable question. # # * THE suggested use of Government forms in connection with the conduct of land agents' businesses, could easily be made to embrace other phases of Land Agents' Law. There is at times a good deal of clever work done by land agents. It would be a pity if it were too clever for controlling.legislation. • * * TT is difficult to understand the Labor protest that policemen should not be allowed to appear in uniform in the Children's Court. The child mind should very early be brought to realize that the- uniform of our- -police force is an emblem of security, law and order. If children have done anything wrong, the uniform will serve to remind them of the nature of their lapse more effectively than a mild, quiet, drawing-room discussion in which the child revels more as a guest than one to be mildly admonished. If tho 4?n*ild has done nothing wrong then it can still have nothing but wholesome regard for the police uniform. # * * THERE will be some mighty hard nuts to crack in Samoa. * • • THE new Member for Raglan ls a sane, level-headed, well-balanced man who should do justice to the Assembly into which he has just been installed. In view of his short term prior to the next election, it naturally follows that he should be returned. # # * THERE is a good deal in what Sir Joseph Ward said anent the old Liberal remnant. A complete return to Liberalism in this country seems more or less problematical, but one can admire Sir Joseph for his tenacity, and, at the same time, see his reasoning when he refers to the names of Seddon and Ballance being theoretically submerged by off-shoot parties with diffprent names, though cherishing Liberal ideals. • * * QNE reason why so many petitions are presented to Parliament, and why, incidentally, so many are turned down, is that any Member of Parliament desiring to remain au fait with his constituents, will readily turn a sympathetic ear towards a complainant and shoot in a petition. The Government knows that. The only difficulty however, is that committees who hear these petitions are rather inclined to ponder this side of things too much. Admittedly petitions are "considered" but in many cases, genuine petitions are often put into Parliament as the last possible hope of rectifying a rank injustice. In any case a petition "recommended" is usually ignored by the Government. « # # A little more daylight pacing would be welcome in some places. • * * WHEN the lights failed in the House of Representatives it was not the first time that members were kept in the dark. #• * # ANENT the Bill sponsored by P. *"* Fraser with the object of suppressing divorce cases, and which happily seems to have gone the way of most private members' Bills, it is interesting to note in a cable that "more than 500 divorces will be heard during the Michaelmas term, and when the year closes 2400 divorce cases will have been decided in London alone." This is not only astonishing but informative. It represents a fearful increase over any other period in history and can only be directly attributable to the fact that guaranteed suppression, is making a joke of the sacredness of marriage. * « * QUITE rightly, the Leader of the Opposition drew the Prime Minister's attention to the fact that the Hon. A. D: McLeod had gone to Raglan at the full pitch of the bye-election and was receiving deputations. "He went there to discuss politics," blandly returned the Prime Minister. If a bye-election cannot be won on the merits of the candidates, without the elusive political pimpernel bobbing up to be deputationised, it' shows how real are the Government's fears. It isn't cricket, anyway. # # * W/HY does Prime Minister Coates still " hang on tenaciously to the portfolio of Railways? He is Prime Minister. To do that job alone should keep him away from other portfolios, especially one so heavy and thoughtcompelling as railways. Railways is a one-man job, sir. Give it to one man.