BY THE WAY

Evening Star, Issue 19724, 26 November 1927, Page 2

BY THE WAY

[By Q.V.]

“ Ths time lias come,’’ (lie Walrus said, 11 To talk of man y Ihings." • Mr Tapley’s frank confession that he. was rather in a dilemma, as he had friends in both the License and N’olicensc camps, made ns wonder for the hundredth time why men sock to become M.P.s. It cannot he the remuneration. Any member will tell yon that lies honorarium is much too small, as we are inclined to think that it is. Alter paying his “cut,” his hold and travelling expenses, and subscribing to all Hie clubs, associations, and societies in his district, there cannot bo much, if anything, left. There is perhaps a certain honor and glory, but not very nuich. Against these advantages, il so they may be called, the M.P. is the target for every man and woman in his electorate who Jins an arrow to shoot. He is expected to secure for his constituents more than their lair share of public money. He is looked to to redress all their grievances, real or imaginary. He is regarded as a sort of modern knight-errant galloping about the country slaying dragons,. rescuing distressed damsels, and helping their more distressed- parents to make out their income tax returns. When the deputation goes to Wellington he is expected to show it some sort of hospitality. True, he soon develops an inward callousness which enables, him to evade most of these responsibilities, but only at the cost of alienating his supporters. At the end of three years he trembles, and mutters “So many done, so many more to do.” He remembers that the electors are even more fickle than the climate. He never feels entirely safe—that is, if ho is a wise man. Not so very far from Dunedin a district elected the same member for twenty or more years. He arranged his affairs on the basis of a life tenancy. Tho following election the axe fell on his nock. He went back to private life with a constitution impaired by age, late hours, and excessive smoking. What do men go into polities for? •» * ♦ # Wo have often been, and still are, impressed' by tho shrinking diffidence of tbo agricultural and pastoral interests. Many of their representatives arc here as this is being written. Is it not their great festival of the Summer Show? In one brief day they decided to consult their dominion executive with regard to a, wool-grading scheme, and if the idea were, approved the Government was to be “ approached ” with a view to providing the necessary store, or presumably stores. This being satisfactorily arranged, they decided to telegraph to a presumably sympathetic M.P. urging “ the immediate exemption of primary industries from the Arbitration Act.” This was carried with fraternal unanimity. Apparently the reasons for the action were considered self-evident, as none were advanced, nor were the views’ of the employees referred to. Like the ill-fated animal in Daudet’s story, they thought that it is all very well for others to be confined, but freedom is necessary for goats. We hasten to add that we quote without any intention of comparing the rural gentlemen to goats in any way other than their love of a free, untrammelled life. Some little alarm lest petrol used by farmers should be taxed being happily allayed, file Government was again called upon to plant trees (one speaker suggestedmillions of them) in Central Otago. Feeling, doubtless, that good work had been done, and the Government approached frequently enough for one day, the meeting adjourned to gather strength to make another lot of requests later on. The townsman is a faji-Iy good approachcr himself, hut lie libs still something to learn in this 'respect. * # * » In tho idyllic'early days of the church nil tilings were hold in common. It was tho first,' and probably the only true, communism ever practised. It was only possible because the strength •of the young faith was sufficient to prevent any of the brethren from annexing more than his or her fair share. Times have now somewhat altered. Tho Rev. Mr Comrie, who is an anthoritv, said in Christchurch tho other day that fully a-quartcr of the wealth of this dominion is in the hands of Presbyterians. The calculation is interesting, and wo would like to know its basis. Our experience of tho Presbyterian Church is that il is always hal'd up, and always devising fresh schemes for raising funds. One way and another an enormous amount of money is collected, or freely given, every year for religious purposes. In Ids brief .sketches of the principal New Zealand towns Mr Donne says that in Dunedin tho visitor is taken to see First Church and Knox Church. This is not strictly true, but if it were worse things might bo said about us. These churches arc both old, built when we were a much poorer community than wo arc now, and they arc only two out of a very great many. When one rellcets that all of these tabernacles have to bo kept going, year in and year out, and iliat many of them have subsidiary interests to maintain as well, one begins to have a dim idea of tho strength of the religious appeal. Jf Mr Comrie’s statement be correct, some at least of this bread cast upon the waters conies back, and, still following tho sain© guide, the Presbyterians seem to pick up a good deal of it.

The charge of Jiving in the enchanted castle of the past, ignoring the living, changing world around it, cannot bo laid at the door of our University. If it be, it will be promptly removed by the caretaker. Glancing at the Home Science examination results, wo noticed that there is a course in experimental cooking. Most of us have met with experimental cooking in the past. On board ships wo found that though the material was limited the spirit of research could almost invariably be found in the galley. Many a bushman’s camp and many a shearer’s cookhouse, even to-day, have their _ bold inquirers into the infinite possibilities of mutton. In how many fish shops in Sydney, and probably elsewhere, docs shark appear so disguised that its own mother would disown it? Of the average boarding house cuisine wo will not speak. Has not llio groat poet “Anon” written;

Each morn “’I is Mutton Chops again 1” you say. Ah, but wlierc went the Boast of Yesterday? And that same Hash before you on tho plate iMay bo the Roast metempsyehosed, ifay! These, however, are but tho works of isolated and unco-ordinated experimentalists, groping blindly, each unaware of tho other’s" efforts. Wo ourselves have in our humble way cooked dishes which had more than a mere local reputation. Little we thought as we practised, if not high thinking, at least living so plain that it might almost be called ugly, that- wo should one day be able to consider ourselves as an uncertificated experimental chef. We wonder if, even at this eleventh hour, wo could obtain a diploma of service. Probably not.

“ Tbo followipg passed in experimental cooking..”'—University Home Science examination results. “Can she cook a bit o’ steak, Billy boy, Billy boy?”—Old chant,y. Lady, although your charms are such As those for wiiich I'm looking, Pray, toll me, have yon studied much Experimental cooking? It is no idle whim, 1 vow, Which makes mo catechise yon. Better, as Yanks say, do it now Than later on chastise yon. Would you, should fate be so unkind, Live in a cottage humble, And bravely say you did not mind, And never, never gruniMo? Can you to China tea impart . A indy dainty savor? Confronted with M'Connochie, Could you improve its Haver? And can you time the morning eggs Exactly as is wanted? . And does your eotl'oo show.no dregs When properly decanted ? Say, can you plan a bill of farm , For palaces or cloisters? Can yon recall tho days that were, -. With plates of curried oysters? Then, dearest lady, of my dreams,Jf such is your condition, For you and me a marriage seems A lirst-clas proposition!