THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19665, 8 July 1929, Page 8

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

By Mrs Malcolm Ross. Last week's proceedings were prefaced by a "tangi"_ w hen mem b er s ; past and present, who have died in the recess, are mourned bv Parliament. The list this year was, happily, short, but comprised three notable personalities, Sir James Wilson, Sir Douglas McLean, and Mr H. W. Uru, gaps in the last-thinning ranks of the pioneers. Much was spoken in prai>e of all. Of Sir Douglas's splendid generosity in time and money in aid of our men at the front and in hospital I conld write at length. N 0 trouble was too great, nor any time too inconvenient for him to give the one or take the other. He was a fascinating raconteur of old-time happenings. He never looked hi 3 age. and prided himself on resembling Robert Louis Stevenson—the same lean, long face, and dark hair falling over his brow. By his death many have lost a friend, one who was oyer ready to help a lame dog over a stile. Mr Uru, slow, ponderous with a splendid head crowned with a mass of thick, crisp hair, I used to witch as he went to his seat beneath the gallery. In London, at a critical time in our House, when a narrow margin lay bc-tween the two Parties, Mr Massey spoke privately of the loyalty of Mr Uru, who was always present to record his vote. It was but natural m a Rangatira and a sportsman. The mover and seconder of the A.d-dress-in-Reply have to undergo somewhat of an ordeal. Usually they are newcomers —novices in Parliament- - and one can imagine with -vhat trembling fingers that evening they arranged their dress-ties, while feverishly conning over the most brilliant passages in their election speeches. Not that there was much of the modest, shrinking violet about Mr Bodkin, whose very name—singularly inappropriate as regards his appearance—aroused a certain interest in the Ladies' Galleries. He was perfectly assured, and very fluent, running the gamut of many emotions, notably that of indignation at the late Government that had utterly failed to meet the unemployment difficulty. We thanked the powers that be for a clear and audible speaker. His telling allegory of the Labour tree-trunk branches and twigs was rather marred by his stating that it was out of joint—the fault, of course, of Reform 1 His main theme was unemployment, foi which malady he prescribed closer land settlement, the breaking-up of large estates—an old-time nostrum. In tragic tones he denounced the Reform land policy, or the want of it, and included a good speech—though rather didactic—by a chaotic simile in which a photographer, Mr Coates, ar:d a dunce's cap were mixed up, and interrupted by Reform laughter. Mr Munns, who has taken Mr Potter's seat, also spoke much on unemployment, and its causes, two of which, he said, are the increase of machinery, and the fact of women and girls ousting men from their jobs. Really, both of these speakers should prove additions to the House. By the way, one wishes politicians would give the well-worn phrase, "God's Own Country" a rest. Both speakers used it. The Ladies' Gallery was crowded, but there was a curious absence of Ministerial womenfolk in the smaller gallery. Mrs Bernard Wood, Lady Rhodes, and Mrs Coates were on the front bench. Any scraps of ceremony are welcome in this commonplace proceeding of the House—the Speaker's wig, which suits his clear-cut features so admirably, the mace borne in so dignified a fashion by the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the matter of evening dress for the mover and seconder of the Address-in-Reply —all are welcome notes in dull procedure. Among the questions asked on Wednesday afternoon, there was an appeal that the name "Chateau," applied to the new Tongariro Hostel, should be altered to something more suitable—such as a Maori title. The name of Great Chief Te Heu Heu, who was the generous donor of that wide country, might be utilised with honour to him and New Zealand —instead of going to a foreign tongue for a word that does not iD the least express the meaning required. The Leader of the Opposition waß in fine vein when he rose to critieise the two speeches, or rather he confined his criticism to the statement of Mr Bodkin, whose assertion about the aggregation in Central Otago he refuted. His speech aroused much comment from the Government benches, and it is not always good policy to interrupt. It gives a speaker a peg to hang new matter on, or a handle to turn against the interjector. Mr Scobie Mackenzie, when listened to in silence, was never half so effective as when assailed by interrupters. After all, it does evince a certain amount of interest, and nothing must be more trying than talking to a comatose and dreary audience. The galleries are grateful for a certain amount of interjection. Indeed, the greatest gratification of the galleries, one must admit sorrowfully, is a row! Now, under the wise and firm rule of Mr Speaker, these occur but seldom, but in the good old days there were long queues waiting to get in when a "scene" was expected. So far proceedings have been so dreary that one woman on Wednesday evening 3aid, "This is terribly dull. I'm off to the Synod!" There is abroad in the House a spirit of sweet reasonableness, and one heard with amazement Mr Veitch, the Minister for Labour, complimenting Mr Coates for his sportsman-like qualities. The Labour Party so far has been silent, but who knows what this may betoken.

Mr D McDougall, the bellicose member for Mataura, who sits behind the Ministerial benches, is very sensitive to any criticism of his Party and is a frequent interjector when any opposition member is getting his blade between the ribs of a Minister or a Government supporter. On occasions he wears the bold tartan of the McDougalls in the form, not of a kilt alas! but of a waistcoat. This, combined with a somewhat serious countenance, seems to add ferocity to his protests against any attack upon his friends who, on either side, endeavour to restrain him. On Thursday he was the cause of a most unusual incident. Mr Coates had come to the end of his time, but had not finished his speech, and both the mover of the motion for the Address-in-Reply and the Leader of the Labour Party were on their feet to move for an extension of time, which in such circumstances it is regarded as common courtesy to grant. Mr McDougall, however, shouted an emphatic "No!" whereupon the House was struck dumb with amazement. Mr Speaker made an effort to get unanimity, but Mr McDougall was adamant. "No' No'" he cried, "let us get on w'th the business of the House 1" Eventually, however, the member for Mataura realised that his protest was not popular, and Mr Coates was given the necessary extra minutes to finish his speech. Such an objection is as unwise as it is unprecedented, for, as Mr Coates duly remarked, one good turn deserves another, and the fiery Scotsman mav later on find his eloquence stopped in full spate. It was Mr McDougall, who. during Mr Kvle's speech, urged him to sing a song. It would have been a peasant interlude if he had done so. Once in the old days, when a member was quoting a "oem, he was urged by an hon. member to "sing it," and he actually did so. Apparently the early-closing movement is almost an accomplished fact, for on Friday evening members were permitted to skip away to their homes for the week-end. Mr Kyle, the member for Riccarton.

was amusing about the peripatetic Ministry—here one minute and somewhere else the next —feted and feasted with such lavish hospitality that once at least the hat had to be handed round to defray expenses. He owned frankly he would enjoy a banquet himself. He chaffed the Minister for Railways on his observation trip along the route of the South Island Main Trunk Railway—on a wet day and with the blinds drawn—and yet so optimistic was the Minister that he declared that the line should go on merely from a scenic point of view. Mr Poison, who represents Stratford, had interjected frequentlj during Mr Coates's remarks on the Taupo Railway route and spoke strongly in favour of "the Government's stopping the line. Considerable interest was Felt in the speech of Captain Rush worth, who fought two elections against Mr Allan Bell for the Bay of Islands seat. He is a charming speaker, fluent, with a voice that is clear, but never raised, and with a fine command of language. He is evidently a reader, and, more than that, a student. He uses few gestures.

The new member for the Southern Maori district is as great a talker as his predecessor was a listener. His name, Makitanara, is simply the Maori for McDonald, and the bfend of the Maori and the Celt is apparently conducive to a &ow of language. Mr Makitanara, however, is no orator as some of his forerunners were. Words, not always well-balanced, flow from his lips, and his humour is not in the least subtle. On Friday, when he made a very long speech, members were inclined to laugh at him rather than with him. "It will interest members,'' he said, "to learn where our Party sprang from. It sprang from nowhere." a statement that raised a peal of laughter from the Opposition and the Labour benches. "It will go back to the same place," uromptlv interjected Mr Samuel. "It rose like the Phoenix from its ashes," continued Mr Makitanara, changing his metaphor, and the House laughed again. He had a tilt at the rising generation. "The tnmble to-day," he said, "is that the >oung people like wearing collars. They don't like work. Our education policy in the past has been all white collars, and stiff ones at that. There is too much fondness for jazz." His speech certainly brightened a rather dull afternoon, and the House will look forward with interest to his future utterances. It is extraordinary, considering N«w Zealand for so many years has granted the female franchise, that we have no women in the House. Is it because women do not trust women? There is the same feeling, quite unjust, with many concerning women doctors and lawyers. Or is it because we have such implicit faith in man? A church dignitary recently deplored the fact that women who get into Parliament are usually childless or unmarried, and therefore lack the experience of maternity. But surelv the mother had a more important job. The person really eligible for the position would be a widow with a grown-up family.