SOME OBSERVATIONS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 89, 12 October 1920, Page 10

SOME OBSERVATIONS

PARLIAMENT AND POLITICS

(By "Outpost.")

'J'hough not yet lowered, the ilag of the leaseholders, like the political section who. now carry it, is very "old and tattered. It is difficult to realise that once it flew so proudly—held aloft in the hands of Grey, Ballance, M'Kenzie, Seddon, Ward, and JM'Nab. In the last few years the- issues have greatly changed, and on tlie broad, main question, the question as it applies to lands generally, contention scarcely ever arises. Wit hi the legislation that has been passed, and the results of it, the cause for old party alignments has been removed. Now and again the introduction of a side issue rekindles the flame, and;then the eye of the traditional leaseholder- sparkles with renewed lustre, and, heavy though the odds against him, he answers the call. Such an occasion occurred twice in the last two weeks—in the proposals to grant the freehold to Te Ai-ohaand Botorua. The two cases were dissimilar in soaie respects; the former are mining leaseholds, and the Eotorua- lands are 99-year Crown leases. AVithout discussing the merits, or demerits, of the proposals, it was interesting when the division bell rang on Thursday, and Eotorua's future tenure came to be decided, to note what occurred. The steadfastness of some members to their past professions sorted them into strange fellowship. The Leader of the Opposition voted with the Prime Minister, and with him was the LabourLiberal Mr. H. Poland, and the Liberal Mr. E. W. Smith; while into the leasehold lobby went Mr. E. A. Wright cheek by jowl with Mr. P. Fraser, and Mr. A. Harris with Mr. Savage. Dr. Newman went with Mr. Holland, and Mr. Statham with Mr. Perry. Of the new Liberals, Messrs. Masters, Horn, and Edie voted against the- freehold proposals, and new "Independents" with/ them were Messrs. Kellett and Mitchell.

In the course of a temperate and studied appeal for an amnesty for the conscientious objector, Mr. H. E. Holland, in a recent debate, quoted from the writings and sayings of men of note their exaltations of the "voice of conscience." It is wonderful how prolificare the encyclopedias and books containing extracts, from other men's minds '(with which the Parliamentary Library is well stocked) in quotations on "conscience." Dr. Davies's excellent collection of prose and poetical gems, for instance, has nineteen quotations extolling the virtues of a good conscience. Here, for instance, is one by Fraser : ''There is not on earth a more capricious, accommodating, or abused thing than conscience. It would be very valuable to exhibit a curious classification of consciences in genera and species. What copious matter for speculation there is among the varieties of—lawyer's conscience—clerical conscience — lay conscience—lord's conscience^—hermit'ii conscience—tradesman's conscience — philosopher's conscience — Christian's „ conscience—healthy man'G consciencel—sick man's conscience—ingenious consciencesimple conscience—etc." Perhaps Mr. Holland overlooked Dr. Davies's collection. Writing of conscience, by the way, leads one to observe how unanimous and well adjusted are the mental perspectives of the eight men (counting himself) in' Mr. Holland's party. Ono carino.t recollect an occasion, either in mat-ters-of principle, or in "the mental outlook upon legislation; or upon life and things in general, when the voice of conscience has demanded that any one of the eight should express a view that isn't exactly like that of the other seven. It is both exemplary and unique, so unique that if such perfect unanimity existed, among Mr. Massey's forty-two on every conceivable question, Mr. Holland might term it not obedience to the voice of conscience, but to the crack of the party whip.

The House displayed almost unanimous .sympathy for the Home Service men, whose claims come forward in the presentation of the Select Committee's report to the House. The Committee's recommendation was sympathetic, but suggested that the completion of the repatriation of the overeeaf men should take precedence. The House decided to refer the petition to the Committee again. There are six returned soldier members on the Committee, but it was declared.on their behalf that they had approached the matter with an entirely open mind. Ac a matter of fact), the Returned Soldiers' Association's attitude in this matter has been quite neutral, neither for nor against. It was pointed out by the Chairman of the. Select Committee, however, that there are claims now before Parliament for increased pen. sions, to disabled men, who find it hard, on their allowances, to make ende meet, and that these demands involve a sum of over a million sterling. It is difficult to suggest what the fate of the petition will be this; session, but its prospects are not very bright. The House of Representatives worked solidly and with relish last week, and removed a considerable quantity of important items from the Order Paper Indeed, on Friday afternoon and evening it appeared' as if the Government had come to the end of legislation in a state of immediate preparation. The ■week end, however, should have put that right. The session should not extend far into November. Mr. Ma~Fey- recently stated there were yet a doz Bills to be put through, but in spite >. \ifc members are speculating hopeful.;, on being able to witness the. running of the Cup.

It is obvious that the session will end with the state «f parties- very much in the same condition as when it opened The "Independents" and other floating few are stil! as they were at the start. The former have not been -Me to decide upon a leadei, and wil' content to remain as they are. one spirit and in thought, and with the word "possibilities"' brightening the future. It is quite on, the cards that during the recess some cf them will take the platform-in each other's electorates.