ELECTION NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22256, 2 November 1935, Page 15

ELECTION NOTES

LAST OP THE MOA-KINS PLEDGES OF CANDIDATES Mr. F. C. Jordan, Liberal candidate for Parnell, who might be described politically as the last of the "moakins," is going to sec to it that election pledges are kept and to that end would amend the Parliament Act There should be no difficulty. The Parliamentary librarian, who by the way has joined the official excursion to Europe this year, should be the man to keep them. If there is any shortage of space no doubt the Unemployment Board will provide a subsidy so that a proper fireproof repository can be built for the purpose. May one suggest an entirely now wing of the library for the accommodation of election pledges. It would bo no uso putting up a sort of lean-to because it would be filled in 110 time. Let lis have a substantial building and all the catalogues and references and ready-reckoners necessary for students, research workers and M.P.'s. A building for this purpose has been a long-felt want and every session members are put to 110 end of trouble in finding where the other fellow has put his pledges and in securing a secret hiding place for their own. In the new library it would be simplicity itself to sheet the pledges home. Man Overboard " Have you not heard, man," writes a political yachtsman, " that in the boat race you have been talking about, some of the D class craft had a man overboard before the race had properly begun." Quite. Tho founder of the new club it seems fell out of the starter's boat and there is a suggestion that his swimming ashore has made tho water nearly as hot as the Beaverbrook geyser at Botorua. Voice In the Wilderness An Independent in Parliament was likened to a voice crying in the wilderness by Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb, National Government candidate for Wellington East, when speaking at Hataitai. There was ample room in any party, he said, for men of original and fearless judgment —men who could influence the policy of the party. In order to get anything done a member must first convince tho men of his party before lie could liopo to convince the House. Looking For Something New Bather an unusual sight at a political meeting was witnessed at Mr. T. C. A. Hislop's gathering in Cronnvell, when three old gentlemen occupied the front scat, states the Dunedin Star. Each of them boasted the ripe age of 84 years. Possibly, like the Athenians of old, the trio was anxious to " hear some new thing," for their evident interest in the new party's policy remained unabated throughout the evening.

The Farmer A farmer who is not pleased with the parody of Mr. A. P. Herbert's verse that appeared in this column submits the following:— The farmer enn never be happy again, He carries the towns on his back, He is driven insane by the taxation drain, And envies the old station hack. On tho other hand someone might retort: — The farmer ousht to be happy again. And be proud of his broadness of back. If he wants to complain he should pause and refrain. For his brother in town's cot the Bnck. Microphone in Parliament'

Although the Labour Party has no desire to have the election campaign speeches broadcast it proposes to put the microphone in the House of Representatives at the earliest possible moment. If you want to know when that moment will arrive you must think of a number and double it. Mr. Savage is very strong about the importance of the "mike" in Parliamentary debates. He told the Ponsonby people of the common tragedy of many things that are said in Parliament not appearing in the newspapers. If he could only discover how 50,000 words could be compressed into the space of 5000 the difficulty would end and the populace would be able to sit up all night exploring the columns to ascertain what a member really meant to say. However, when the debates arc on the air and all-night sittings thereby become constant, the citizenry will be served. Imagine eager Auckland coming to work in the morning after listening most of the night to the debates. For the few who might chose not to listen no doubt a little Act could be passed compelling them to use a receiving set that cannot be switched off. The pearls of Parliamentary wisdom ought not to be thrown before —that is, indifferent people should be forced to study the affairs of their fair country. The Ins and the Outs Some time ago we heard of a Southland farmer who had come round to the opinion that the Government was quite alright, simply because he had had a good lambing season. Then, ot course, there was the Tooley Street conspiracy in favour of the Government. The gentlemen of Tooley Street had decided to raise the world price of butter simply to keep the New Zealand Government in power and defend the banks and all that sort of thing. Now we know that Tooley Street has let butter fall again, so the inference is that it has gone over to the enemy. Again, there is the announcement that the demand for unofficial relief is falling, but what sort of sinister political rainp that may be is not yet disclosed. Of course, it is harder to whip up political discontent when optimism is in. the air. But everyone has not the frame of mind of the man who at the races is given the wrong ticket on the right horse which pays a "score." It would bo deplorable if outs and the outer-outs failed to find every reason for outing the ins. In the opinion of the outs, tho ins of every country have been rushing it to ruin ever sinco they set up the Westminster institution, and so will it be down the corridors of time.