Notes From The Gallery

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 10, 1 September 1939, Page 23

Notes From The Gallery

(By

Our Special Representative

Pleasing the Appeasers + Morals for Men Dozing Mr. Semple + More and Better Metaphors

member to be accorded the compliment of applause by the Opposition in a formal debate. But there was a genuine hearty ring about it when F. W. Schramm, Government member for Auckland East, and a_ well-known lawyer, sat down after fifteen minutes’ summing up of Britain’s part in international politics. His frankness in supporting Britain’s policy of appeasement was of course disconcerting to certain of his bench-mates, who had been ‘equally frank and unequivocal in their condemnation of the actions of Britain and her Prime Minister, but the handclaps of the Opposition were the only open consequences. LF: is most unusual for a Government Another Dissentient Another Government member who refused to subscribe to any suggestion that Britain was playing a " doublecrossing " policy was W. J. Lyon (Waitemata), though he found it a ticklish business to excuse his colleagues on the ground that if they ‘had erred in their judgment of Britain they erred in good company. He was however able to quote the views of Anthony Eden and DuffCooper as critics of Britain’s foreign policy. The Women’s Viewpoint Mrs. C. Stewart, who represents Wellington West in the Government’s interests, blends a practical outlook with a good deal of sensible philosophy, which is a refreshing change sometimes from made-to-measure ideas. No one could disagree when she said: "There is no harm in making mistakes; the harm is done when we do not learn the lesson they teach.’’ But a section of the House objected when she added " .. . the only bankruptcy I can see in the country is the dearth of constructive ideas from the Opposition." Dozers-Bull And Otherwise Bulldozers, treedozers, cowdozers, other sorts of dozers, wheel-barrows and bullbarrows, not to mention bobby calves, became all mixed up in a brief, but lively exchange between H. G. Dickie (National, Patea) and. the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), with W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) providing a few noises off-stage. Mr. Semple happened to come into the Chamber just as Mr. Dickie was waxing sarcastic about the various kinds of dozers, the cost of public works, and so on, while Mr. Broadfoot was inventing such implements as cowdozers and bullbarrows, and generally, and very audibly, trying to be helpful.

. . . And Bobby Calves Mr. Semple took it for a few minutes, and then suggested with a hint of asperity,' that Mr. Dickie should try talking about bobby calves, a subject on which the member for Patea could speak with authority. Mr. Dickie retorted that, while bobby calves were an asset to the country, the Minister had created nothing but liabilities, and an informal little pourparler closed with the Minister informing Mr. Dickie that if he (Mr. Dickie) would give him (Mr. Semple) a copy of his Hansard, he (Mr. Semple) would make him (Mr. Dickie) "look the biggest goat he had ever looked." Spectacular Perhaps it is the Irish in him, but the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, a former Minister of Defence, and now National member for Manawatu, has a flair for the figurative that finds expression in most of his speeches. He was a little more spectacular than usual in the Budget debate when he talked about the Government’s financial skyrocket scattering its manycoloured stars in the sky. "But," he added, "the stars are gone, the stick is coming down, and certain people are wondering whose head it will hit." Grim C. W. Boswell’s indictment of the financial system was couched in rather grim terms. The Government member for the Bay of Islands, like his predecessor, Captain H. M. Rushworth (Independent), is not altogether in favour of the present money system, and he took exception to the criticism of the Government, "just because it had put on a little extra taxation to drag the country from the voracious maw of the monster of finance." A Matter Of Interest "You are rocking the boat," S. G, Holland (National member for Christchurch North), told W. T. Anderton (Government, Eden), after he had jockeyed the Auckland member into confessing that he considered the 4% per cent. interest rate on the Government’s recent internal loan was just about twice as high as it should have been. Mr. Anderton said plainly that if he had had his way the rate would have been 214 per cent., though he did not say just how many nibbles he hoped to get with a bait like that. Stop Press D. C. Kidd, National member for Waitaki, and a runholder.at Burke’s Pass, in South Canterbury, makes it clear: "TI did not quote it-I read it from a newspaper!"