YOUTH AND BRAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 288, 5 December 1935, Page 6

YOUTH AND BRAINS.

LABOUR PARTY'S PROMISE.

(By J.C.)

A survey of the photographs of the new Government party gives the general impression that the triumphant half-hundred have at any rate youth on their side to a very considerable degree. There are many alert-looking comparative youngsters in the happy party. It used to be said that muscle predominated over intellect in any Laoour congress, but that was long ago. Our keen Labourites are as a class omnivorous readers, and there are university men among them. (It is a pity the farmer does not read as much as the average Labour man.)

Labour lias the benefit of clergy, too, for there are two reverend gentlemen in the party, and there is a doctor, the first medical man in the House since Sir Maui Pomare's time. It cannot now be said that Labour is concerned exclusively with city affairs and represents only sectional interests, for there are as many farmers in the party —eight—as there are in the new Opposition. The two parties, too, are equally balanced in the matter of law with three solicitors a-side. There are men who can write well and debate logically and incisively. The leader sets an example of thought and deliberation, not to say caution, in his platform manner; his words do not tumble over each other.

The pictorial array prompts, too, the I remark that our legislators in these days do I not run heavily to hair, in the fashion of a generation or so ago. There was a time when a clean-shaven candidate for Parliament would have been regarded with disfavour, especially in a country constituency; an aspect of youth did not inspire confidence. Whiskers were necessary if a man was to win the trust of the well-bearded toilers on the land. Failing a full beard, a generous walrus moustache betokened maturity and experience. Nowadays the sight of a man who has the courage to retain Nature's face covering is apt to give the beholder a feeling of discomfort, as if he had forgotten his own morning shave, or many shaves. There was an attempt a few years ago to revive the old-time sideboards, alias sideburns, Dundreary or Piccadilly weepers. I do not think it became popular to any extent, unless among some of the Latin races and South Americans. There is not the ghost of a sign of it among our men of this Parliamentary generation, though there are a few brave beards.

Instead, this generation has taken heavily to glasses. Spectacles large and super-large, variously rimmed, begoggle young and old. They may denote a studious habit, but they always seem to me incongruous on a youthful face, an indication of foolish over-devotion to cramming for examinations. I am inclined to the view that, like the motor cars on the road, half the glasses worn by our young and nearyoung men could be dispensed with, with benefit. However, this does not apply with any particularity to our newly-victorious Parliamentarians. There are many good, strong, sturdy, combative faces among them that are not yet, and, I hope, never will be, deprived of their aspect of native forcefulness and vigour by resorting to auxiliary eyes.