POLITRICKS

NZ Truth, Issue 1144, 3 November 1927, Page 4

POLITRICKS

NOW that Truby King is to go, perhaps T. K. Sidey can take over the business, seeing that he is so concerned over a man's sun and air. , * * # THE Industrial Conciliation and Axbl--1 tration Amendment Bill was not the infant prodigy of the parent legislation that it was thought to be. It had little to offer, designed as it was, to placate certain opposition, possibly from the rural side, and was more m the nature of "eye-wash." Exempting the farming community from the provisions of the Act might havo something to recommend it as a theory, but the hope of practical benefit is one of those remote things spoken of by mathematicians as "problematical." * * « THE quibbling m tho Houso over the I extra tea-money to employees was petty, ill-timed and indiscreet. The Leader of the Opposition well described it as "discreditable to Parliament and to all of us." * * * TT is interesting to note a big farmers' A body adopting the sane view of Daylight Saving; namely, that it was the law of the land, and therefore "entitled to a fair spin." Premature squeaking is too suggestive of the spilt milk lament. * * # . I JF the end of the session is m sight there are a lot of politicians with 'XI" trouble. * * # MINISTER McLEOD has apparently II been steeping his political soul m the spiritual jar of Biblical record. His summing up of the new party as the "lions of Biblical history, who move up and down the land seeking whom they can devour" may have a germ of truth, although the Minister seems extraordinarily keen to rush into conjecture before the full facts are known. The Minister himself has moved up and down the land probably more than any other holder of a portfolio, but what he sought to devour — alas! only he knows too well. j * * *' THE Presbyterian deputation to the A Minister of Justice m regard to military training, which, they urge, should be abolished, drew from the Minister non-committal silence. The question of military training is a bigger subject than public and politicians generally are prepared to concede. Indeed, there are hundreds of wouldbe Labor supporters who find the military defence question an irreconcilable and indefensible barrier to the acceptation of the Labor viewpoint. It is, perhaps, always ■ difficult m a world so essentially catch-as-catch-can (beyond rectification by so great a tribunal as the Disarmament Conference) to adopt the view that if you throw down your guard the "other fellow" will not touch you. * # *. LABOR Party "usehold." Reform Party "loose-hold", or Liberal "lose-holdr Which ? * * • THERE seems to be good ground for •*• believing that legislation is being considered on the recommendation of a leading magistrate to do away with a proved anomaly m the Child Welfare Act, namely, the legislative assumption that the Press generally would deliberately identify a child innocently involved m another's crime. No paper would ever draw the public gaze to unsuspecting childhood, but there is always the desire m the interests of public policy, to give an adult wrongdoer all he deserves m the way of publicity when his felony is proved. This can be done by placing the discretionary powers now vested m the magistrate on to the shoulders of the Press.

QIBLE-in-schools. Jsitt or is-il-nol?

"THE fact that the Petroleum Bill is ■*■ not to be passed this session is comforting. The search for oil has already proved of international import, and so gigantic a question — involving vast tracts of native land here — should not be considered too lightly. The Bill will be the better for being considered deeply during recess.

MUCH as it is desirable to have pre- "*■ ventive legislation against- price fixation, the economic aspect should never be lost sight of. Admittedly, the public want goods just as cheaply as they can get them, but cut-rate stores do not always measure-up m the long run with sound economics. The Industries and Commerce Committee have really taken a sound view m deciding that the most they should do is to "exercise careful supervision" by the Department of Industries and Commerce, with a view to preventing possible trade exploitation.