Untitled

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8545, 28 September 1907, Page 5

I A QUESTION,oIVHHiI When will members of understand that, in the "fierce light that beats upon their individualities when they appear in the Legislative Halls, there is no shadow under which they may hide themselves from the all-searching eye of the Press —that greatest of all guardians of the wellbeing of the country. One would have thought that long experience would have taught the politician who has secured a seat in the popular Chamber of the Legislature that the "fierce light that beats upon the throne" also beats upon the members of the Third Estate, and that he would recognise that criticism would only affect him where it is deserved; and, if deserved, thei*e is but one course to him—to amend his ways. If undeserved, the less notice taken of it the better.

On the 24th instant a paragraph appeared in the Lyttelton Times which commented upon the comments of certain members of the House of Representatives respecting the attitude of the Press towards members and the inadequacy of the reports in Hansard. The writer insidiously suggested that it .vas bej cause the latter reports were verba- | tim hon. members were dissatisfied, and also that because the Press representatives discriminated between speeches worth reporting and speeches not worth noticing there was dissatisfaction amongst those who were described in a general way as the "also spokes." This led the member for Wairarapa, who is, as a rule, recognised as one of the hvel-headed men.of the House of Representatives, to so far belie his well-earned reputation' as to enter a vigorous protest against the para graph in question, and to take the extreme step of moving that it was "a breach of the privileges of this House." Personally he was not attacked in the paragraph, but he took upon himself to sponsor what he believed to be the opinion %f the majority of his colleagues, without, evidently, having consulted them. The result was that after evoking a discussion that wasted the best part of an afternoon sitting, he found himself practically -unsupported, and the motion was negatived. It is a remarkable psychological fact that mental pin-pricks are often productive of more annoyance than real j physical suffering, and this was demonstrated by the attitude of the member for Wairarapa on Wednesday last. He felt strongly that a slur had been cast upon the members of the House as a whole; but the members failed to see the position from his point of view. The impropriety of the paragraph was generally admitted, bat very few members were disposed to attach much importance to it, and the House acted wisely in the end by negativing the motion, A few hours later friends and foes of Parliament and Press were afforded an opportunity of smothering their different in oysters and porter at a supper provided by the Premier; and in celebrating the birth of the Dominion they remembered that, the pioneers, whose heroic efforts had sent the "colony" on its march towards the "Dominion" stag?, had undergone worse hardships than an attack of "Pressitis;" so, taking hands all round at the close of the supper, they sang, "Auld Lang Syne," and went home happy and contented.

DEFINITIONS. What is the definition of Dominion? asked one of a number of friends I met on Dominion Day. I don't deal in conundrums when in Parliament Buildings. I have had too many political conundrums to solve in my time, and too many failures in the attempt at solution, to take any tickets on conundrum shows of any kind. I said so. "Well," replied my questioner, " 'Do', is a musical note, and 'minion' means 'small,'" and from this he unpatriotically argued that New Zealand, by assuming the title, was manifesting' its insignificance—it was playing upon a straw pipe and vainly squeaking to attract attention That was his view. Another man, with a reference to the political controversy upon underweight bread, that has been occupying the attention of both branches of the Legislature lately, said the inauguration of the Dominion symbolised the short-weight bread era. "There is 'dough,' "he explained, "and 'minion,' which meaiis little, otherwise' 'underweight bread.'" Another man began another definition, but I fled precipitately, and so live to record how a great theme may be debased by shallow minds. All this has nothing to do with matters Parliamentary, except that I write it in .Parliament Buildings, which for the day are deserted.

POSSIBLE CONSCRIPTION. The Premier has promised to make a statement to the House respecting the aims of the Council of Defence in the matter of augmenting the Dominion forces for defence purposes. That statement will probably have been made by the time this is published; but, so far, no one knows anything of its character beyond the Premier and his colleagues. It is evident that the tendency of the Council of Defence is in the direction of conscription—modified or pronounced; but Sir Joseph Ward has disclaimed any sympathy with conscription in any shape or form. We have no militia in the colony—"Dominion," I should say—yet the Council of Defence has decided "that the militia should be called upon to take a more active part in the defence of the country than has hitherto been the case, and instructions have been issued for the compilation of the necessary information." This statement, taken in conjunction with the list of proposed legal exemptions from service, would seem to indicate that the intention of the Defence Council is to inaugurate a system that practically amounts to conscription, by whatever name it may be called, and it may be expected that Parliament will have an emphatic voice in the proposal when it comes before members. The statement which emanates from the Council of Defence that the number of men in New Zealand between the

wHBHj MEETING OF CITIZEN?®® A largely-attended public meeting,, convened by Messrs C. A. Pownall,. P. L. Hollings, M. Caselberg and G. Heron, all ex-Mayors of Masterton, and having for its object the matter of arranging for a public presenta tion to Mr R. Brown, upon his -severing his connection with the Borough Council, after thirty years' service, was held in the Exchange Buildings last evening. Mr C. A. Pownall was voted* to the chair. Several apologies. for absence were received from, prominent citizens, who expressed themselves in entire sympathy with the movement. The Chairman explained that themeeting was a purely private one,, and had absolutely no bearing on any action of the present Council. For that reason, the meeting had been? called by ex-Mayors of the town. He felt and he was sure all those present were of the same opinion, that MrBrown should receive some public recognition of his valuable services, to the town for the past thirty years. It was only a matter of deciding what form this recognition should take. After a brief discussion, during which several speakers eulogised MrBrown's past services, it w?s resolved, on the motion of Mr P. L.Hollings, that the presentation should take the form of a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address. All those present were formed into* a committee, with power to add totheir number, to carry out the ' necessary canvass of the town and arrange for the presentation. Thefollowing were appointed an executive committee: —Messrs P. L. Hollings, C. A. Pownall, E. G. Eton, A„* Hathaway, W. M. Easthope, J. CEwington, W. H. Jackson and DCaselberg. Mr W. M. Easthope was appointed hon. secretary.

It was decided to close the subscription lists a fortnight hence. Before the meeting concluded a large amount was subscribed in the room, and an enthusiastic meeting adjourned with a vote of thanks to the chair. The executive committee met subsequently and allotted the portions of ! the town to be canvassed by the individual members.