THE NEW ZEALAND LABOR PARTY

Maoriland Worker, Volume 10, Issue 448, 8 October 1919, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND LABOR PARTY

IN THE HOUSE

By J-laro-karo.

Parliament still talks, and has lengthened its daily sessions by including Monday as a working day, but, so far, both branches of the Legislature have dono little, if anything, towards producing the New World so much talked about, by tho Mahatmas ot politics, who favor it in theory*! and welcome it as an ideal to be "kept Bteadily in view," but stubbornly oppose any efforts on tho part of Labor to bring it about as "unconstitutional," a word that bids fair to rival Mesopotamia as a blessed word. The humor of it is that Britons owe all their much-vaunted rights and liberties to unconstitutional acts, not to Acts of Parliament, The unconstitutional of to-day will'be the constitutional of to-morrow, and it seems that if we are to make much progress towards the New World of our dreams the Constitution and constitutionalist will have to get a shove from behind from the despised unconstitutional ist. ##. * * The Lords are peturbed about their privileges. Mr. MacGregor raised th. Question in connection with the Women's Parliamentary Rights Bill, and the Speaker said he would look into the matter. Mr. Speaker consulted some mouldy precedents, and discovered that May, Burke, Cushing and others all agreed that each branch of Palavennent should do all in its power to facilitate the proceedings of the other branch in a Parliamentary iway! Privilege is based chiefly ou unwritten law, a fearful and wonderful thing, only less marvellous than the written law, which any lawyer Will tell you represents the triumph of human wisdom. The Speaker said a lot more of a kind that raises doubts in the minds of a thinking man as to whether man is a rational being after all, seeing that the people's elect, tho wisest of the wise, are unable to rule or do anything without having to consider what has been done or not been done by our fathers and grandfathers. Mr. Speaker's sapient remarks and what followed would have done credit to Gilbert and Sullivan. Sir Francis Bell moved that the Bill be struck out, but memberobjected, and Sir Francis asked the Speaker how he would move in the matter, to be consistent with his ruling, which was far from clear. The {■Speaker said he thought the Bill could i>e proceeded with, but amended in committee. This caused laughter—a healthy sign, for so long as members of the Lords can laugh, there is some hope for them. And thero will be some hope for the country when it sees the laughableness of tho Lords, and decides that a joko can be carried too far, and abolishes tho laughable > Upper" House. Sir Francis Bell, frelisMng th'e absurdity of tho position, . admonished members not to laugh at the Speaker I This was asking too , much of human nature. As well . snlght he ask the intelligent electors ] not to laugh at tho farce played by ( these most potent, grave and reverend , eeniors, the houorablc members of the ( legislative Council. # * # « ' The Housing problem is ono that . will bo kept well before the Government by Labor members. On Monday bight questions were fired at Mr. Mas- , .cy by several members. The first lo ; Open the question was Mr. Semple. who asked the Prime Minister if he ] would give effect to his promise to , Safeguard the. "unfortunates who bad , Do homer; of their own, but bad to feut bouses, by limiting the profit the • landlords might, n*ake to s per cent. , Semple stressed 'tic need, for allaying the public anxiety in respect to the tendency of vents to mount higher. Mr. Massey declared that every promise he had made in regard to housing would be carried out. before th. cession ended. This, of cour.se, remains to be seen. Replying to Mr. Fraser, the Premier said flint housing accommodation for railway workers was under the consideration of the ' Department. He also said, in reply to other questions, ibat thcro was ' little hope of a To«>vr.-pJa__'i-g Bill [ feeing brought, before Parliament this - session, but he would __!_ the House ' to agree to legislation to enable Mar- ] bor Boards to provide houses for ' their workers. The Budget make.- no ' mention of tho Housing problem, and ] contains no financial provision for it: ! _o tbat it. looks as if this vital need J of the people is to be dealt with in j the good old official way; tinkered l with and kept, "under consideration." The amount, of work that Parliament ' does, in relation to the talk, reminds ' one of Fa Is tiff's penny worth, of bread f end intolerable deal of sack, i •>;• k •_■ -XMr. Dowuic Stewart, seems, to be th-. 1 one member of tin: House on the c wrong side of if who has siven some 1 thought, lo Labor problems. He .seems t to have come to the conclusion Ibat a Guild Socialism is Ibe way out of tie*, r. present industrial labyrinth. _w a least the tread of his -iaiem.nt in the r House ou Wednesday nisbf was, in t that direction. Ho nomled out. Ib..t t "nationalisation" as X was jfn-rally i, advocated, might easily entrench Ihe r capitalist more strongly than ever. Il j is quite true, but the Guild idea pro- t vides against that, undesirable state, ii of things, a fact, Mr. Stewart seems to f admit, for he said that giving tho I workers a voice in control might be a ,way «»!«• •" !-•"• <--,-. rii:. diiitCUliir:*. (!•--!" vcr,i. !'ii ' ■■> '■' '■" - ■ '- LL 1 ' " •■: i political Labor in AuslraTia, ami said n the general opinion now expressed by t< leaders of Labor was that merely to d Bbtain control of tbe political ma«l U n- d #ry was" nothing, that, ii v.-:c, then economic machine ibat ruled the ti country, and that unless nuri/r, . could get some control in lhe worXm.- t] of industry, more success in the poll- b tical field would be of little avail to b them. We don't hear remarks like g that from the Labor members, bui ti Labor should not be above listening to n its opponents when they talk sound T sense. After criticising Mr. Holland's P view that no industry taken over by w the State should be run for profit. "Mr. ;i {Stewart contended that "nalionalis-i- U jlon" would be a success only if very k arge concessions were riven lo Hi- _1 porkers in tbo way of piana-.-em.-n! it f in&ystrj;. {speeches like U_i_ inj.i

In and Out of Parliament

"the Honse are worth while, and 'Kiaroskuro" would like to hear mpre of them. They are an education/which is more than can be said of the average speech of the average member. * * * * The Budget, debate has been proceeded with during Hie week. Sir Joseph Ward led off, and was at a manifest, disadvantage in criticising the finances, for to a very considerable extent he is mainly responsible for the present position. It scemod strange to find him searching roun'i for something to bespatter his late associates, with whom he has been sitting contentedly, cheek by jowl, during the period of the war. Notwithstanding their long political association, there is little love lost between Sir ames Allen and Sir Joseph, and the latter seized upon the present Treasurer's "collaring the accumulated surpluses" with avidity as the blackest of political crimes. Moreover, he indulged in wrathful condemnation of the proposal to spend fourteen millions for the purchase of land for soldiers. This year, he contended, there should not bo more than seven millions spent on the soldiers. If the present loan succeeded, bo declared it would be only on account of tho compulsory clauses of the enactment relating thereto. He is not far wrong. Sir James Allen, replying, professed not to take the other knight's criticism too seriously, and accused him of electioneering. As to tho accumulated surpluses and bis nefarious incursion on them, this talk amounted to pure bunkum. This money, said the Treasurer, had not been paid into the sinking fund, but apparently Sir Joseph thought it should be. The latter wanted to add five millions to the accumulated surpluses and get a million a year for the invested sum, but where was he to get the five millions? Surely it was better to utilise cash in hand instead of borrowing on the London market. Sir Joseph had hinted that Sir James had certain revenue up his sleeve, but this the latter denied. All that he could say was that he did not know what the revenue would be, but he hoped it would exceed the estimate and that expenditure would fall short of expectations. Fine words which butter no parsnips. When knight meets knight, then comes the tug-of: war. But not when you get into financial problems. We will wait for . the box office to speak. On the coal i business, both knights were vague and unsatisfactory. This is a political art essential to the fool-the-people : parties. • -X- r X ir '}: The Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald was i heard with interest in his Budget : speech, becauso ho is a man that provokes a kindly interest. He is car- ' nest and sincere, and as Minister of . Agriculture and iv his association J with the Board of Trade he haa really ' attempted to do something practical. At one time thcro was a probability of his being able to accomplish much, j but he was suppressed by the Do- . nothing policy which has been tho ] thief defect of tbe 'National Govern- t meiit. Tho only thing the National \ Government has douc has been to '.. raise millions for war. Otherwise ih..bi appointments of boards and comtuis-jj sions galore witii the purpose of ' throwing dust iv tho eyes of the 1 people. "Mac," as ho gcucrally J dubbed, is a genuine man, and, given . a. free hand, would undoubtedly do j good work for tin; country. So far < as the. National Government was con- r corned, if was sad and dopressiir.' | company for him. His proper place . is with the. Labor I'arty. He ba_ i "risen from the ranks: bui should not have risen out. of ihem. 7. -A _ _• Mr. H. Hi. Holland, the member for i Gnu spoke with his usual force, Ho ; dwell, upon Ibe. starvation ot the cdv- ] cation service of the country. In his j i opinion, the Budget proposals we.c ; totally inadequate. He also •■■rnpha- | siscri the fact, thai Hi ere si.> ,_ed lo be h no real disposition to set. rid of Itmji coal difficulty. This, be asseverated. | c must, exist so long as Ihe mines ie- j ] maincd iv private bands and were; -, worked f imply for capitalistic, profit.' 1 He pointed out that one of *he grc.t- . est problems--tj,. ]j-.u.- :i- problem— i bad been left, untouched. There was t the smu. assurance tua.t there would t be a Bill in due course. The usual j t Bill Massey promise. As to soldier c settlement, Mr. Hoiland was strong c in demanding pro-war prices, for laud v instead of war-inflated laiues, which . Must ultimately meau ruin for the _ soldiers when the prices of produce i: "ell. He, was firm iv Lis advocacy of r i. State Bank, which would uot exist •'or the sake of iu('*rest, bui for the :ood of Ihe State. < * -x. * * In 'ilr, J. T. M. Hornsby has been! 6 :o;.;ital in;-, a I Carterton over the po i r iXcal situalion, and come to i]_h coo !° •lusion that he wj'l play the part o{ j'"' i. "ha.lii r, ' a. specie;; of gent h .jiaij wl.niY 1 roc; absoluKsy on his n\ni--;i;, lonX *- J is if suits him. He has issued aj n naniiXsio lo bX. Waira rapa. r_n»yi- 1; uenis solemnly warning Ihem that his is no tiiri'" for parly strife, and. lie " s Lonis. to take up a ib-.'L'u;.;h!y mile- f lendeni attitude "lo see how ihe cat *' limps." He doe. not actually use P hat phrase in his manifesto, but. !_a,i P s what; he means. The ca!. he j-, rightened of.iumnin_' is the Labor lj X-irt.y, and he raises Ihe bogey of !! Revolutionary Socialism." 'Mo thinks. 1( ~.-i--i i a-, V. .ii.-ijli"., , m Label" fany nay be copsidcrably increased so as, o secure a strong" IcveXti-, if not c: ommatiny, power iv fmug imm.- w i.ale poliiXsl events. There will be v o surprise ji' he is. not far wrong, for d he community has got sick of then l.asscyitf-s ami th" Y'ardites, with n. heir unfulfilled pXrXrs. But this 'JOLey a'OOUt. Revolution IS the b!Z_'!-t U' osh imaginable. The Labor Far!. M ocs about Us business in a. con.XiX.- M ional way, seeking hi carry nip. the it lUch-requii'F'il needs, of bijnia Li 1 ty. n ' 'here is one II.mil; about the Labor 'I ! ,"ir|v. 11, lias a- -.eiller) ply I I ol pi, ane 1' ill ha I .'- nn pie i rurl promises such "i r; S ; ,- .los.cpli Waril Iti; nni forward. '■' kh'-n vim are iv I lie. Labor I'arty you ! v' iii.iw exactly w here you are. 'Where i l l 11*. Hornsby may l.iel hire..-If ill 'I lately, r-s an im oiiserinr ni ia I ra'-: j "' illcr, 13 ol iil.tiv xwp.-. lo anj body! Llj

r but himself. Possibly he will hay his political noddle chopped off. * * * * The manner in which the early dsy of tbe _e_-i._. _i"o friited _w_y, so let ed, does much to support the idea o many people that the Upper Chamber for the most part, is a joke. Th Council is continually waiting on th Lower House for something to dc , until the actual close of the sessior . and then ii is so rusbed with Bill j that their passing becomes largely ; matter of form. The Legislative Council's protest year after yea against the rushing business, com plaining that no reasonable oppor tunity is given of digesting measures ' but they inevitably succumb to th: suavity of Sir Francis Bell, who, ii ; a mesmerising tangle of words, as ■ sures them that all is right as righ i can be. "We must get through th; session, don't yon know" —and th< good old joke goes on. Now, wb_ cannot the Council be given somethin. to do at tho start by the introductioi of seme measures in the Council ir the first instance. This was the plar adopted in the Victorian Parliament for many years, and it proved very practical. By the time many measures were thrashed out in the Upper House they were quite ready for acceptance by the Lower. There was satisfaction and much saving of time. Things were not reduced to a farce anyhow, so far as tho Council was concerned. * * -x- -xThe ex-Rev. Isitt suffers from extremitis. He objects to people who say there is no essential difference between Liberal and Reform. Isitt is a decent old fellow, and as honest as it is possible for a politician to be. But his enthusiasm for the things he champions seems to be mostly wasted. He harked back on Thursday to the formation of the National Cabinet, and the attitude of Labor at that time. It was not very clear what he was driving at, but he rambled on fluently, amidst interruptions from Labor members, and said that the success of the extreme Labor Party would engender despair in the country. From that he went on, still fluently, to deal with the opposite side of the House, where the political "reformers" sit. Then Lo said that if extreme Labor was successful in driving the members of the House into Reform on the one hand and extreme Labor on the other, it would be a very bad thing for the country. Isitt is the kind of man who talks nonsense so well, almost so eloquently, that people are apt to forget that his ornamental style hides a poverty of matter. He worked himself up to conceit pitch and made references to the ex-Kaiser, the Bolshevik, th. Nihilist, and the French revolutionaries, all of whom ho regarded as sincere. Ho was willing to admit the same of tho "extreme Labor Party"! Then he went on to rate that party, and declared that they had done all they could io discourage conscription. Precision as to facts X not bis strong point, for he confused the Labor Party with tbe Peace Council; but got out of it by saying that the party was so mixed up with conscientious objectors and other cranks tbat it was Impossible to tell which was the head, tail, or middle of it. •» * * * An old saying: "Milk for babes, strong meat for men." In the course of a motley speech, iv -which Brother Isit.t, wandered from tho D_u of Extreme Labor to the Bcor.heba of wino production, he said ho did not read Tbe Miioriland IVor.T— his brainwould not stand ii. Holland interjected: "Aro you sure you havo one?" "Hansard" or the "Free Lance would be more in the lino of Brother ].-,"it. He can tall; without tbinkiu.tr, and The Worker might burst a. blood-ves-sel in his cranium if he made an honest effort to road, mark, and inwardly digest its contents. "Hansard" for political babes; The Worker -for fullgrown nien and women, who need stronger m«. I than political pap. Rickety- Russell hinted dark!.",- ar by; expenditure in the direction of ma kin? tho world in general, and Maoriland in particular, safer fo. plutocracy. To bint darkly at thins.-; not known by the :*.eueral public, 1.0 say "I coil'd au' if T would." j;; jj ic kind of thin;:; thai, appeals 1o petty minds. Here is Kickeiij'.. prophetic utterance, for what. it. is worth; no doubt there, is something iv il: "A largo increase of expenditure in connection "with war matters may be brou,-nt- before tlie House b-Xre the' session closes. More than that I do; not care to say' Had be £ aid tyy.i the large increase of expenditure was to be in connection with peace matters, or for much-needed education, doubts might, have arisen _. to the correctness of ihe forecast, but .17, wa:* is fast hecomrn . an essential mlustry, and its profits are gnat "ante. d yy every civilised Government, there s likely to be some truth iv X us .til's prognostication. ■«■ -A •■;• •;. Vigor Brown i.. concerned about bo housing of members <-.r r-irJia-ncnL tie asked the 1.1 . .ri pf ti],. t;o\-. ?rnn.enl. if he intended i,, pro\ide ■00ins in I lie House fur 111 in ■ ?rabX, 11111 horuXesc, members. •nit Mr. Mas. yv stinted and said lay. There is, ploj.ly of room oil he. 'lawn, and the spectacle of Labor combers formin;; a Simple. Life <Xuup hero and holding open-air campaigns nay be seen. yet. Jl. 7 rii;.-b. |-,c bar J or ''.icivade,-. Holland and Semple to ir<Lc|-,.- 1 heir dicrufy while <-.->okin.. tmir chops of a. morn in _ in a,'ir* ms!.]"l before-, i h<-> vtidc ;.:a_e of t.b.3 ' !atscrs-hy, hut if would draw alten- ' ion lo Iho scandalous state n. affairs n the Empire (.'ity, where ibe "law \ if supply and demand, so far as houso , xionn is concerned, has become an in- : .Hi; rr. ni-.bnrtnv pi-,lij-j,-., ; 'j .--.-r-i-.s ;-,-.— i : A good reply lo Mc in.vrci.ne of the ; x-Rev. Tsitt against tin: Labor Party 1 i*as made by Mr. SemnX, who showed ' ip tin; sufferin'.'... of ihe men who :-.o own tile rjiXirs, .•■•ild siren-;jy cX- ' .ounce, ibn m. i -linn ni the (io-, e-rp- ' '!>.Ut, pa:- tan 4 pr.s?n\ in i i . .a.ri"! to ' le*- rr'in; r-vil.- rampant m ;iie ii.jn:L.; ; industry. LTr- adniitfe-ij thai Mi ' L'.eDnnald had done -_oprj y,m-j. as ' Imisier of "\lincs. and declarer' th.it A he c_ istin.. trouble v.as fine lr> the ."ptitu.e. aiirl calhiii.; inrhh'i "-repi c ol - lie t loveriiLL Hi lo sir-si i-cnnnmji- f i "!•'- m: . I i, c|i.-41i.-'n.".:ef) Mr. I.si I In iff I |,mi befce a ("hri.-.lchitrch ..c ... 'in"'', and provr that lliorc v.sis an;. lan!-; in Ihe |.ibi> r Party';--, p I a t f.-. i m t lal v. onli! (h--.lroy Ihe |,o iM: . |jf ( , n r | I"" pceplc. Tlie policy f>( '. iolcn--i ; "as the po! ii \ of l Is- crjpna ! i- t , n;.i! I ie poiivj" ot' Labor, '.ihe du'ctl, ay- a

tionists of Maoriland had been manufactured by political indifference —an undeniable fact. * * * * A _.Ic_. £-. --ot r era-dies was made f,v S:i Joi-'.i X;rL:uL-, a n?.r:« of so academic a type of mind that it is hopeless to expect to see him ever become a direct or an indirect actionist. He was sorry he had referred to the inflation of currency in a previous speech, as be had been so much misunderstood. One can sympathise with him; to be great is to be misunderstood; to be misunderstood it is not necessary to be great. He very rightly impeached society for demoralising workers and then blaming them, and declared that the discontent of miners was due to vile conditions that had been allowed for many years. The evils of the past created the industrial bitterness of to-day. Until social standards were revised no true solution of the Labor question could be found. This brings Sir John into line with the Socialist; but we need not expect him to join the Labor Party yet a while. He has tho knack of being on the side where success and office aro to be found. However, it was good to hear him also uphold the principle of Guild Socialism, and declare for co-operation, not only in production and distribution, but in the control of industry. He paid a tribute to his partner, Mr. F. _-. Dalziell, who had made an attempt to show how cut-throat competition Lor the means of life could be replaced by brotherly co-operation. There *eems to be hope for the men of law 2ven yet. Of course when Mr. K. Semple, M.P., put a question to the Prime Minister about certain commodities being kept from export until local needs are satisfied, he was referring principally tc butter. For some time past the average grocer has been unable io get anything like the quantities of butter needful for his customers. This commodity has been doled out In a. miserable fashion of late in order that the usual exportation can go on, and the complaints of grocers have been loud on the subject. Surely our own people have a right to be served first in regard to articles of food produced in this country. Mr. Massey ought to have known quite well that Mr. Scrapie's idea was not to stop exportation of agricultural produce altogether. - Yet he feigned to believe that this was the purport of the question, and airily dismissed it by replying that "to prevent export of the Dominion's products would be ruinous." Of course it would be, if there were to be wholesale prevention. But some little discretion might be exercised in the matter so that butter should not be aliowed to accumulate in cold stores while the local population have to go on "short commons." « * -_• •_• Mr. Isitt was intoxicated when he attacked the Labor Party the other night—intoxicated with the exuberance of Lis own verbosity. Under the iuuuen... of verbal excitement he rather gave the Liberal show away by declaring that he would rather see a Reform Government iv power than an "extreme Labor" party. This indicates that ho and some of his associates are prepared once more to be merged jn Mas3eyism, which only indulges inSextremes when purely country interests arc at issue. If Mr. Isitt ir. co much against "extremists," why is ho so pcrfcrvid on the liquor; question. AU the good in this world has been effected by so-called extremists. An extremist, is a man who is in earnest. The politician who is all things to all men is a miserable sycophant—absolutely useless in tbe working out of (he destiny of" hunianit v.

•c tionists of Maoriland had been mane factured by political indifference —a: undeniable fact. * * # * ~,. A sica £jr .-ot rcraodiss was mad 0 j I academic a type of mind that it i , r hopeless to expect to see him eve __ become a direct or an indirect action 10 ist. He was sorry he had referre 0 to the inflation of currency in a pre n ' vious speech, as be had been so muc \_ misunderstood. One can sympathis a with him; to be great is to be mis re understood; to be misunder ir stood it is not necessary to be great _. He very rightly impeached society fo r _ demoralising workers and then blam S- ing them, and declared that the dis 1 0 * content of miners was due to vil in conditions that had been allowed fo 3 . many years. The evils of the pas j t created the industrial bitterness o l 0 to-day. Until social standards wen ie revised no true solution of the Labo: y question could be found. This bring: - Sir John into line with the Socialist but we need not expect him to joii n the Labor Party yet a while. He has n tho knack of being on the side where t j- success and office aro to be found y However, it was good to hear him alsc s uphold the principle of Guild Socialr ism, and declare for co-operation, no; ._ only in production and distribution - but in the control of industry. Ht ,' paid a tribute to his partner, Mr. F I' G. Dalziell, who had made an attempl s to show how cut-throat competitioe for the means of life could be replaced by brotherly co-operation. There seems to be hope for the men of law even yet. 1 Of course when Mr. K. Semple, M.P., t put a question to the Prime Minister , about certain commodities being kept from export until local needs are satisfied, he was referring principally tc j butter. For some time past the j average grocer has been unable si t get anything like the quantities of butter needful for his customers. This commodity has been doled out In a. '. miserable fashion of late in order that '. the usual exportation can go on, and I the complaints of grocers have been loud on the subject. Surely our own people have a right to be served first I in regard to articles of food produced \in this country. Mr. Massey ought to have known quite well that Mr. Scrapie's idea was not to stop exportation of agricultural produce altot gether. - Yet he feigned to believe \ that this was the purport of the ques- , tion, and airily dismissed it by reply- \ ing that "to prevent export of the Do- . minion's products would be ruinous." ' Of course it would be, if there were ,to be wholesale prevention. But some little discretion might be exercised in the matter so that butter should not be aliowed to accumulate in cold stores while the local population have to go on "short commons." a * -_• •_• Mr. Isitt was intoxicated when he attacked the Labor Party the other night—intoxicated with the exuberance of Lis own verbosity. Under the iuuuen... of verbal excitement he rather gave the Liberal show away by declaring that he would rather see a Reform Government iv power than an "extreme Labor" party. This indicates that ho and some of his associates are prepared once more to be merged jn Mas3eyism, which only indulges inSextremes when purely country interests arc at issue. If Mr. Isitt ir. co much against "extremists," why is ho so pcrfcrvid on the liquor question. AU the good in this world has been effected by so-called extremists. An extremist, is a man who is in earnest. The politician who is all things to all men is a miserable sycophant—absolutely useless in the working out of (he destiny of" humanity.