Saving' Grace of Humor

NZ Truth, Issue 1035, 26 September 1925, Page 6

Saving' Grace of Humor

MOST of the present elected members of Parliament take themselves very seriously. The opinion held of them by the electors is usually very different.

It is seldom that debates are brightened by the display of much wit/ When an attempt. is made to indulge In satire it is generally of the bluntaxe variety. ■

No one would advocate arrant nonsense or tomfoolery m our legislature halls, but one could 'do very well with a little brightening-up.

Perhaps the .wittest. tongue m, the House may be claimed, by a Labor M.P. — Mr E. J. Howard. Many a timely humorous interpolation by the member for Christchurch South has proved more effective than pages of talk m "Hansard."

Moreover, Mr Howard's contributions of .this nature lose nothing- m effectiveness by reason of the absence of itlyxt extreme bitterness which is. typical of many of the m ter jections 'One "hears m Parliament.

.'•■The saving grace of humor might well be cultivated a little more by our politicians. 1 ' They would find it a use-' fill adjunct during the " election campaigru '" : "■"'-' ■/'■"■'■'■ •"' •■".■■■ ■