Queries . and Quandaries

NZ Truth, Issue 1029, 15 August 1925, Page 7

Queries . and Quandaries

===== "Truth" Would Like to Know—

Whether it is generally known that it will bo possible to accommodate 10.000 people at any one time m Dunedin during the period of. the Exhibition? Whether members of Parliament who make doubtful public use of a private conversation that has taken place over a friendly game of billiards, are still "playing, the game?" When the Leader of the Official Labor Party is going to answer the very pertinent questions addressed to him by the old Prohibition stalwart Leonard M. Isitt? It looks as though Henry would prefer to dodge answering, when he declares m effect that he declines to answer' the pertinent questions because they are impertinent — or Avorded impertinently. Is ex-sleuth Bert Munns (now "doing time"), the only "assassin of men's characters" m our midst? If the British Labor Part?^ adopts the proposal that the name of the organisation should be changed to "Socialist Party," will the New Zealand Party follow suit, m consonance with its main objective? Whether time will not show there was a great deal of truth m the assertion of Labor M.P. Howard (m criticising- the new wireless broadcastingarrangements), that a great wrong has been done the youthful listeners' m? The child with a set worth 7/6 now has to pay the same as the owner of a set that cost £200. How maiiy aerials have been dismantled since the increased licensefee was levied? Whether the daily papers gave sufficient prominence to the letter addressed by that wonderfully active old prelate Archbishop Redwood, m which he wrote to the New Zealand Licensing Reform Association expressing his accord with any endeavor "to prevent New Zealand from experiencing the disaster of National Prohibition?" The meeting that appreciatively received this letter was presided over by an Anglican leader — the Venerable Archdeacon Williams. Whether the Corrigan — Parr incident and the belated withdrawal of an unfounded charge doesn't emphasise once more that Parliamentary Privilege is too often abused? Why should an unbridled-tongue license be issued to M.P.'s? What* have the opponents of Corporate Control of the liquor .traffic to support their opposition except their desire to interfere with the liberty of the subject t by carrying Prohibition? Whether some short-sighted, oneeyed people will ever realise that "Truth" has never opposed any reasonable provisions designed to conserve Child Welfare? What WAS the reason for so many curtailments having to be made m the arrangements for entertaining our American naval visitors? Did Admiral Coontz act on his own initiative when he applied the pruning knife so drastically after having given preliminary approval? Did you notice the big printed announcements m the hotel bars early m the week intimating that no liquor would-be .sold IN BOTTLES for consumption on the premises? Was it only a coincidence that the notice appeared on the eve of the visit of Amei'ica's great fleet What had happened m Sydney and Melbourne?

Whether the Wellington firm that advertised for a "Live Boy," "one with

red hair preferred," was afraid of having a dead red-head unloaded on it? Does Prohibition m any one country tend to make its inhabitants more temperate — at home or abroad? Whether our American visitors have found better arx-angements made for them anywhere than those provided by the P. and T. Department and the Publicity Department? Whether anyone- would begrudge the ex-Leader of the Opposition Party (T. M. Wilford) a good and well-desei-ved holiday and. a complete restoration to health? Whether it is fully recognised that at the Government official luncheon to the Admiral and officers of the American Fleet,- Prime Minister Coates gave generous first mention to the state of Mr. Wilford's health and to the brief and effective letter of welcome written by T.M.W.? As the absent Leader .of the Opposition (really opposition .m name only) significantly and truly wrote: "Your party and my party can stand together m the token of sincere regard which this, function will evidence." Whether Wellington should not be proud of the well-merited praise bestowed by high officers of -the American Fleet upon Harbormaster Dawson for his admirable handling of the flagship Seattle on Tuesday? It is a difficult, thing to bring a big battleship alongside a wharf when the vessel is m continuous motion, but much more difficult to do so from a "standing start" near the wharf. Why it has not been explained that the tribute paid by an American Admiral to Hobart's port — a tribute that placed Hobart second among the world's ports — referred mainly to its scenic beauties and not to its harbor proper or to its facilities for accommodating and handling big shipping? Is it true that our stocks of chewing gum have been terribly depleted m the past few days? | Why has an important letter addressed by the Petone Town Clerk to a Wellington resident on 28th July not yet reached its destination? Where is it?