THE PARADOX OF PARR

NZ Truth, Issue 943, 22 December 1923, Page 7

THE PARADOX OF PARR

Lops the Roots With The

Axe Of Economy

POLITICAL PRUNINGS AND

PATCHINGS.

When the Honorable Bill returns to his own legitimate work m hiS own little corner of the world he is not going to find either so much beer or so many skittles as he has been entertaining himself with m his frantic rushing up and doWn Great Britain far the purpose of showing the masses of the people what a fine big chap he is — mentally, morally, and physically. * <- *

The Conference has long since closed its sessions, but the Prime Minister has lingered on until this week, dreading the finish of the holidays and the taking up again of the well-thumbed Primer of Work. Or, more likely still, he is exercised with the condition of parties m the New Zealand Parliament; and, feeling his feet slipping from under him politically, is disposed to hit out while "the going is good." • - » ■-••

Mr. Massey, admittedly, left his country, temporarily, for his country's good. He told us so himself. Also, he assured us that he was leaving the reins of Government m sane and capable hands, and that there need be no fear that the sun would not rise and set almanacically as usual, or that the latitude and -longitude would play pranks with the map, while he was not at the seat^of government to carefully Watch those normalities.

As a matter of plain, simple faot, we have had very little government since the Prime Minister left, and what there has been simply amounts to a significant attempt on the part of holders of Ministerial portfolios to emphasise the boasted prosperity of the. country by attempting to effect •petty economies Which have turned out pretty extravagances m the-cook-ing, owing to that wretched "cussedneßß of things inanimate." Moreover, the self- same prunings and patchings could have been far more reasonably and economically effected by the heads of departments If they were really necessary, for despite the haphazard manner, m which Ministers rush from end to end of the Dominion m an alleged effort to educate themselves as to the requirements of the country — r* practice which they persistently deprecate when out of office — tt Is to the heads . of departments we look for guidance as to local requirements and community of interest. Minister*? Whose minds should be ocoupied with matters of State can never be regarded as statesmen so long as their attention Is being personally bestowed upon the necessity of replacing a cracked pan» of glass at Talhape Railway Station or the need for a new handle for Jim Jones's shovel on the co-operative works at Somewhere-or-another.

However, it is quite possible that they are less mischievously employee In attending to these matters of high Import than if their minds were turned to "higher things," but unfortunately their energies do not cease there, and m their haste to put all their tawdry goods m the window at once they have developed a nasty habit of interfering with the basic principles of systems and institutions which have taken, many years to build up.

It is a truism that has become trite through reiteration that free, secular education should be the first object of a nation, and even that ancient volume ot Hebraic lore — "The Talmud" — pluces it on record- that "the world Is only saved by the breath of the school children."

Which brings us lo the Hon. Jimmy Parr. Minister of Education, whom the Prime Minister left behind him as one of the sheet anchors of his Party.

Mr. Parr, at the moment, is physically a sick man. An extended holiday m Austrulla has failed to restore his health, and "Truth" is Informed by a politician of high standing thai lt is extremely doubtful If Mr. Parr will be able to take an active part In politics for much longer. We regret, most sincerely, that the Minister's health should bo so indifferent at a critical stage In the Dominion's history, for everybody knows, or should know, that, at the moment, we are ii» the calm centre of a political typhoon. Mr, Parr's honesty of purpose, as opposed to his inability to practice, will make him admit at once, that, even at the risk of embarrass! ng his chief, tht important department over which he has control should b*j handed over to someone better able to ehoulder the onerous burdon.

Tho history of Mr. Parr's administration of the Education Deportment has not been by any means a gratifying one. The text-book muddle Is a case .In point, and the withdrawal of the paltry pittance for prises and the generally half-hearted and muddle* Home administration of Education, particularly m the country district-*, are others, and It is perhaps not a curious coincidence that the Mints* tc-r'n return to New Zealand at "breaK-Ing-up time" ahould have brought him face to face with a storm of condemnatory remarks and resolutions anent tho administration of the department, which has been voiced from one end of the Dominion to the other.

A mouthful ot education is not a full meal, and a man must either make provision of sense to understand or of a halter to hang himself with. Mr. Parr seems to have chosen the halter, and "Honest Bill" looks like losing a Minister of Education.

In that event will he also lose control of the Government, for his Party "majority" will vanish into thin air. Unless, of course, more obliging Lib.Labs. come to the rescue, as. we believe, is not at nil unlikely.

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