WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 3

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

UNCONVINCING THREATS,

SINGLE WOMEN WITHOUT WORK,

[BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN COE.RESrOX.DENT. | WELLINGTON, Saturday. It. is just possible thai flic enforced ho]irfijy—sail though its mason was—may liave braced members, for they came bark to tlx- House in a livelier spirit. Into 1" jections are always a. lest of interest, nnd on Tuesday afternoon there wa? so much interruption that Mr. Speaker threatened to name someone if it persisted. This is evidently the. last resource, though .it is difficult to understand why it is a disgrace for a member to be called Mr. Smithkins rather than the member for Little Peddlingfon..But there is a Standing Order to that effect, and also one that forbids one man referring to another in the by name. Mr. Harris, during his effective fighting speech, spoke of Mr. Holland ,n the member for Buller, and was reproved by the Labour Leader for discourtesy, which lie was assured was not. intended Mr. Coates' vole of no-confidence w.is intended to sort members _ into their various sides, and certainly it had soins* effect, for wc had Mr. Barnard using i elaborate horticultural metaphors to oxplain his position. He intends, if tlie United'fig tree shows no sign of fruit, to lay the axe at its root, though one fears that as long as ever one mildewed fig hangs on the bough he will forbear. Mr. Fletcher the temperamental, was much more, explicit, and has given the Government a week's reprieve before he begin* to annihilate it on the score of incapacity j in dealing with unemployment. Another Chance Conceded. Mr. Wilkinson also told the House where he stood. He wished to give th« new Government a chance of justifying itself, ar.d if it does not, well, the member for Egmont is going to see about it. Surely one session and a bit might give one some idea of what a Government is capable of doing, but forbearance is evidently the role adopted by both Labour and independents, and seems likely to endure till next election. All tho dim threats from Independent and Labour left the Government cold, for it knew that at the appointed hour both parties would follow it into the lobby. Tho expected happened. Labour, in spite of its complaints and threats against the Government, voted en masse with it. So did the Independents, who also performed (lie conjuring trick of cuting their cake and having it. for they found fault with the United Party and kept it in office.

One should not like (/■> hp Mr. Fraser's bench-mate when, as on Wednesday, lie rose in a fine frenzy to defend his com-, lade, Mr. Nash, against the aspersions of Mr. David Jones, just back from London and America, and trenchantly critical of tho opinions of the member for Hutt. Generally there is a certain liveliness when Mr. Jones and Mr. Fraser meet in conflict, and the latter, who is as a rule dangerously cool and satirical, was very vehement, and thumped his desk until the welkin—whatever that is—rang. There was hot argument, retort courteous and the reverse, and, as little Peterkin was told, it was a famous victory, but one was not sure who won. The placidity I of the Labour Leader, busy writing next j to his roused lieutenant, was in striking contrast to Mr. Fraser's gestictilar indignation. Drain on Members' Salaries. There is much comment on the proposal of the Minister of Railways that every membcr of the service should give a week's work fieo to alleviate unemployment. Curiously, at the same time, it has been suggested that the honoraria of Ministers and members should be docked and money thus saved. But though seme members may not be worth their salary, it is certain that, speaking generally, they are not over paid. There are so many calls on members that must sadly deplete their pay. It is quite conceivable that a refusal to contribute, to a. little cricket club might cost a member his seat, for one remembers, during last election, how rumours of meanness, and worse, were created, fostered and spread broadcast, with no chance of destroying them. As for Ministers, they are expected to contribute to every society and club throughout New Zealand and one hears that £SOO out of a salary goes in this way. This might bn lessened if no claim outside his own district should be made on any Minister, including the Prime Minister. The Minister of Education, in a clear and fluent speech—he is remarkably easy to listen to and to follow, especially when ho talks on a topic so near his heart—described his education schemes on Thursday. They are. as Mr. Wright, the former Education Minister said, revolutionary, with the drawback of increased expenses, and, with the reduction of the administrative staff, surely an increase in unemployment. With the new system there will be many more teachers needed and it is to be hoped the supply will equal the demand Tho whole discussion abounded in compliments to the Minister, and the committee who drew up the report, visibly preened themselves on the good work and praise for the scheme itself. Never has been seen such affability, though tho galleries may have found it, dull. But the popularity of Parliament has decreased and very small attendances have been the rule. In the present position of things no thrills can be expected and the only hope of excitement is a. scene. Perhaps Mr. Lvsnar, more than usually aggressive to what he calls extreme Labour, may oblige, but after one has seen him following his whilom foes [ into the lobby and voting for the Government and against Reform, that seems mi- , likely. r i A Case for Women Members. ,

All these many years, sir.ee New Zealand women gained the vote with very little exertion on their part, none has I.eon returned to Parliament. There still linger shreds of the Victorian belief thai< women's place is the homo and that her gentle, clinging nature i:; quite unsuited to the rough and tumble of a political arena. But certainly one part of the unemployment scheme made one wish thf't ♦lu re were women in the House to nchcid the cause of the. lonely unmarried woman who may be thrown on her own resources rind unable to get work, r.nd \et is outside the benefits of this propoiil. Certr.iniy *lu> :s not, required to pay the levy, but she may be penniless and friendless, envying her neighbour who di.iws the widow's pension. There are, owing to the war. very large number of unmarried women, who, m other circumstances, might naie been now happy wives and mother. The Minister of Labour detailed hi-bill. 011 Friday to an nuentive Housa, but one not. fntirelv in with H VMS Mr Smith's first, bill and lie was conera tula ted on his explanation of it by M-. (''liites. l'nr the Reform Lender scented the noxious "dole"' in iln- scheme and deprecated )«'>' for "" • '.Vrtamly sud, dues dcMioy sell re.-pe< i and indues inip"'it ion .mil iudoleiuv. and Miieiy ,ome r. turn in the shape ul labour nnixht ho -im-ii bv the recipient. However. Mr. I {ll. >■ i d denied this >»:; a dole, only an j r -li-.Miie, and though the bill did net, : the Laboul Party it vas something

.if.nr.' As vet the discussion is in its initial Stage and there has been no spirited opposition. Perils b'r. on the.* may be some exciiemeiu--t.uk of the ldl . rich- —such an abs.mi n-.nn ;o app v ,o Yaw Zealirmers—and "In; uo.Mi tuddon unde-.-io- ■ h is nect-.-.saiy for a p'-liticiau n.Jvv '.iuif again tr. wax warm over soma topic.