SPEAK UP WE CAN’T HEAR

Press, 25 September 1982, Page 14

SPEAK UP WE CAN’T HEAR

By

WHIM WHAM

Mr Lange 'has a louder voice than the member for Tasman (Mr Rowling), I think he has a wider vocabulary, but clearly he has much less understanding of economic affairs than even the ” member for Tasman’.—Mr Muldoon, in Parliament.

How would I choose — Suppose I had the Choice — Between the soft Tongue and the loud Resonant Voice? Would I murmur mildly My Message to the Nation — Or rattle the Beehive Windows with Vociferation?

How would I pierce The political Sound Barrier — By lulling Tones, or a booming Back-bench Bass Aria? Would I rouse the sleeping House by loudly roaring, Or hardly be heard above the Music Of the Members snoring? There's an Instrument For measuring the Decibels — The sensitive Muldoonometer hears Noise, nothing Else — And it isn’t the Sense But the Sound, the Larynx and Lungs, That's all the Credit you get For your Gift of Tongues! How could I hope To win this Kind .of Game? Loud or Soft, the Result will be Very much, the Same — It goes for Rob too, What All of Us learnt at School, ‘Argument weak, shout louder’ Is'the Golden Rule!