THE CHANGING SCENE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 840, 11 June 1910, Page 6

THE CHANGING SCENE

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW. ; .(By M.C.K.) i ' '-Speech by the Prime • Minister — What Auckland Wants." When we read tlieso headlines in a contemporary .we-.said t-o ourselves: "It may not bo what Auckland wants, but it is cerftainly what Auckland haa richly deserved for a long time." The Timber Workers', Carpenters', Plasterers', and Farriers' Unions liavo approved of the action of Mr. Rosser in sending a message of sympathy in connection with the. death of King •Edward. This, it is. hoped, will dissipate tho uneasiness felt in many- countries that tho emotion of tho moment led them into indiscretion. "In an interview to-day," ran an 'Auckland telegram this ■ week, "Sir , Joseph Ward said one of the most important measures for tho coming - session would be a Bill for the extinction of .the public debt." Sir Joseph, it is understood, has a Bill for the conversion of post-holes, the long holes that you pour brass round to make : cannon, and doorways into briquettes. A few. other little schemes in contemplation by private persons will , shortly bo announced. Ono is a company which will bo floated for tho extraction of gold from low-grade ore by means of porous plasters. A contract will also bo let for tho. widening of Manners Stre'et by cutting six feet off the buildings on the north side and transferring it to the I '-buildings on the . other side. Mr. T. 'Mackenzie. intends, if ho can get a clear week-end, to •bring in a Bill to increase our exports -to £250,000,000,. a 'year.. Th'e City Council will also instal -a plaiit for producing crops of fruit, hats, and cigars from tie trolly-poles by spraying them with a new solution of phosphates. "We have building by-lafrs relating to sanitation and electric fittings and other things. Why not 'have artistic Jaw-s?" So said the president of tho 'Art-Club. And echo answers, "Why not?" Lots of us are longing to read ■something like this in the Parliamentary reports instead of the stuff we get ■at present: ' "Tlie'House met at 2.30 p.m., when the orchestra played tlie Moonlight Sonata; "In reply to Mr.' D. M'La.ren, the for Poetry (the Hon. I). ■ Buddo) said that the Government was considering the advisableness of ap,pointing a Royal Commission to inquire ■into the best-means of improving the local output of ; epics. , "Mr. Ell gavo notice to ask for a retufn showing -the nuinber of Tui- . ners, Corots and Monets purchased during the year for circulation by tlie State Advances to Art-students Department.

" "The Prime Minister, made an explanation regarding the new .regulations ■under the Evening Dress Act. He idenied that the regulations 'were a of the Colour theory. Ho pointed out that on 257 nights in the year there was perfect freedom to wear coloured evening clothes. Mr. Massey bad misquoted Max Beerbohm, whose words 'jis would place on record. What Mr. ißeerbohm had said was 'certain conf; gruities of dark'cloth, aiid the rigid jterfection of linen.' Dark obviously meant [black, so Mi'. Beerbohm could/not bo jquotcd as a Colourist.

"After the first musical adjournment; during ■ which t-lie customary Beethoven selections were'played, tho baton being iwielded, in the absence of tho Minister for ■ Music, (the Hon. .T. (}. Ward), by . the Minister for Sculpture' (the Hon. T. Mackenzie), "the discussion of tho Carpet Patterns Bill 'was resumed.

"At Clause 17, Mr. Massey, wlio chose-for liis accompaniment Chopin's ■Ballade in A flat, moved to strike out all the words after 'that' in tho proviso, and to substitute the words 'on land after Juno 1 nest no person shall !bo permitted to use any carpet containing in its pattern any character, of the pomegranate.' . •

"Tho amendment w ; as lost, and tho House adjourned after tho Prime Minister had given notice to move that /for the rest of the session the Rossotti treading.? would be suspended."

"Political Notes.—A Hardy Annual— Sir Maurice O'Korke introduced yesteriday his annual Bill for the repeal of ; tho Arts Act, and the abolition of all itbe Departments thereunder created, ilt' is understood that" as Sir Maurice, iwho is noiv 198 years of age, is retiring next year, his Bill will bo passed Iby tho Council arid will be allowed to ■pass through "Committee in the House. It will, of course, be rejected on the motion for a third reading."

Dr. Findlay, finding the Government inewspapers inadequate to cope with the enemy, has hit upon tho brilliant idea of giving testimonials to his colleagues. At a public meeting in Auckland a few. days ago,,according to tho liews-' ipapors of that town) ho "paid a tribute ito Mr. Fowlds, who, he said, never had "and never would palter with bis principles or truth for the sake of place or {power."

Other notable opinions aro thus given ■out:

. Mr. Fowlds wishes tho public to know Hliat in his opinion Dr.- Findlay is a (profound thinker. His penetration is [remarkable, and his heart is good. At tho samo time ho is so just in his judgments that his approval of s,ny mail stamps.that man as abovo reproach.

Sir Joseph Ward declares that Mr. Buddo is one of tho most upright and intellectual statesmen of tho time, and ipeculiarly endowed with tact and tenderness.

Mr. Buddo is unable- to conceal his ■firm conviction that Sir Joseph Ward is worthy of everybody's trust. ' Ho .wishes that everybody would adopt Sir Joseph's opinions. If they did so, he (Mr. Buddo) would bo tho happiest man alive.

Mr. Jones (of Jones ..and Brown, drapers) announces that he is perpetually astonished at Mr. Brown's knack of 'discovering the finest goods at tho lowest price.

Mr. Brown (of Jones and Brown, drapers) says he wishes he could tell ►everyone in person how highly he esteems Mr. Jones's judgment.

"Well, Jawn," said Mr. Dooley very .■sadly, "I always thought somethin' jliko this wud happen over sincc he fshowed us a sthrike was not a sthriko whin it wnz or otherwise) hot so. Firrst ..me friiul Hogs an' now th' AttorrncyiGin'ral. llooned bo tli' fatal fascination iv th' mnynoo. 'Alas,' as . tli' ;poto Bracken says, 'alas an' alas,' ho ■I says."' • "What's wrong witli tli' Attorrney?" asked Mr. Hcnncssy. "He's made a rep'tation as a humorist, an' there's an ind iv him. An' 3ie might have gone 011 fr'lll triump' it' triump' if lie had only been satisfied

t' fly low an' build lip a steady famo be showiu' that tli'. more wo owe til' botther off ivo ar'ro. I can seo tli' turr'blo destiny ahead iv him. I can imagine tli' daily snene in the Legisla-tive-Council. He will rise t' move tli' secon' readin' iv tli' Judiciary Bill. .'Sir,' lie will say, : 'I rise—ail' th' Council will giggle.' He ' frowns, and begins again. 'Sir, if members will resthrain their onbeeomin'" lovity—' an' tli' Council roars with! laughter, 'lie's. in gr-roat nick to-day,' they whisper t' each other. 'What did he say?' asks wan deaf Councillor. 'Onbeconiin'-ho-ho-ho', says his neighbour, with tears iv delight rollin' down his face. -. 'Onbecoinin'-ho-ho-ho —oiibecomin'-ha-ha-ho-ho', an' he mops up th' tears with a - wad iv blottin' paper, 'ho says bubccomiii'-lio-ho-lio— onbecomiu' levity—restli'rairi-ho-ho-ho— asks Jones', lie says,', ail', laughs himself into a seizure. Tli' Attorrncy looks worried- an' t.urrns t' his secrcthary an' whispers 'Is annythin' wrong with mo tie?' All' th' secrothary, stuflin' his handkerchief - in his mouth, staggers outl 'Mr.' Speaker,' shouts, th' Attorrn'ey, 'Ilieg ti J -move tli' secon' readin' iv tli' Bill. I 'will .explain briefly its imporrt. ' (Roars iv laughter.) It deals with tli' judiciary' (loud laughter, amidst which several mimbers are led out be tli' messengers). An' afther fivo minutes iv this lie sits down, lookin' pale, an' stupefied, an' nothin' is done. Tli' Bills', .bearin' his name' is rushed. Selections fr'm tliim ar-i'e printed in .tli',,.cpmip pa-apers. Parliament is demor'iised, "an', at last me frind; Joe-has .--t';.;ask...his talented colleague t' raysig'n"."*: ' "It's , sad," said Mr. Hennessy. "It is so. Th' wurrst -iv humour is, not that it leads t' th' roon iv th' Fin'lays, hut that it can't 'lead t' th' roon iv th' Buddos."