POLITIRICKS

NZ Truth, Issue 1143, 27 October 1927, Page 1

POLITIRICKS

* # # THE suggested postal voting idea should be given a wide berth. It may be an excellent theory, but it will have to be not only fool proof but also proof against what is usually termed "the human element." Judges and magistrates are already kept busy enough interpreting existing legislation, but mistakes m a system of electoral selection could have dangerous consequences. # • * TO argue that members of Parliament have no home life is ridiculous. They work, sleep, play and eat m Parliament — and take indigestion cures during the recess. * • • A LITTLE more definite light could ■ have been thrown on the subject of ' Onakaka iron and the ministerial promise of complete protection. A dumping duty as suggested by the Minister m the tariff discussion would not by any means warrant complete protection against the Indian pig iron. Violent fluctuations m the domestic price of iron m India and out here might quite conceivably militate against complete protection. # • * $OME Members thin^ they are Worth their height m gold." Will the Government turn the scales? * # • TT cannot b,e said that there Is any "government for the people by the people" when the direct public wish, through the Representative Chamber is ruthlessly over-ridden by the Upper House whom the public do not select and do not want. In turning down the wish of the Lower House that military defaulters should be given a return to civic rights, the "Lords" showed a malicious spirit, an appalling bigotry and narrow-minded prejudice. Against an overwhelming wish by those who really do represent the people, they displayed an unsportsmanlike, unGhristianlike attitude. ♦ * • TT is refreshing to know that the A Massey memorial will, after all, be a two-fold monument to a great New Zealand statesman and great New Zealand stone. It is reported that the Takaka quarries are to give the material for the monument. * * # • "T HAVEN'T an hour to spare," said 1 a member who was deputationized the other day. Perhaps T. K. Sidey would lend the hon. member his. • • • ]F Winter comet, Sidey'i Summertime mill not he far behind. • m # QNB very satisfactory point about the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill seems to be the removal of the obviously unfair advantage conceded to motor vehicles owned by State and local authorities. Hitherto they were allowed to rip into the main highways free of all financial obligation while tiie so-called pleasure motorist footed the hefty bill. Now, by the new Bill which should certainly become law, the State vehicles etc., meet the cost of maintaining the highways with the private owner. • # # TT is denied that McMillan, M.P. is listed for a wrestling match with T. K. Sidey because Sidey called the Member for Tauranga "tiny" and McMillan called the other "Bull-dog." * * * VWHAT do they know of politics who '" only Parliament know? * * * THE new political party has surely laid its plans now? Why then, cannot the engineers and personnel of it come into the, open and lash things up a bit? On the principle that there is nothing to hide, the time is ripe for a bold, brisk, vigorous step forward, or else m the .^ords of the crier, "Forever hold his. tongue." • # . * # . A NEW novel: "Eighteen Weeks" (a sad story), by Joseph Gordon Coates. (Ptinted and published by Hansard). • . ♦ * THE suggestion that Bellamy's bar * be closed could only be taken seriously after all the other business of the House has been disposed of. It would always be at tlie end of the Order Paper. # # ♦ TOR the Prime Minister to raise the r question whether it is possible to get boots as good m New Zealand as imported, it is at once to show his own views on the matter. Fearing protection he urges that quite possibly local manufacturers might go on getting inefficient. • • # MEMBER FORBES (Hurunui) has *•* made the suggestion that a compulsory scheme of insurance for those injured m motor accidents should be brought m. Just who he should like to see foot the bill is not known, but it should be remembered that even making the rash assumption that a pedestrian is never at fault, he regards the motorist as fair game when it comes to a question of compensation. Already there are insurance companies with policies for "accident." If negligence can be proved m a court, the motorist pays again, proportionate with the degree, of damage done.