POLITICAL REVIEW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26228, 12 August 1946, Page 4

POLITICAL REVIEW

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT SHORTAGE OF BUSINESS ELECTION PREPARATIONS (From our Political Correspondent) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11. Had things worked out according to plan, last week in Parliament would have been a “ long week ”, but it turned out to be an unexpectedly short week, as the House adjourned on Wednesday afternoon for the very good and sufficient reason that there was nothing else on the Order Paper calling for its immediate attention. There have been many occasions in the past when the House was obviously marking time, but rarely has the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, been obliged to confess, as he did last Monday, that he could not bring forward any worthwhile business to justify a full week’s sitting. When it is remembered how important matters are often rushed through in the closing stages of a session with wholly inadequate discussion, it is mystifying that the business cannot be more evenly spread.

‘‘The Wicked Sub-Editors”

On Wednesday the House was so hard put to it that Labour members filled in the time by examining the sins and shortcomings of the Press. Those well-known authorities on this subject, Messrs A. S. Richards, C. L. Carr and J. Thorn gave the House an interesting, if somewhat fanciful version, of what goes on in the newspaper offices, but, with an eye cocked to the Press Gallery, were careful to distinguish between the “working journalists,” as Mr Carr termed them, and the wicked sub-editors, who are the real villains of the piece. In the course of fulminating against the nonLabour newspapers. Mr Richards said he had received a complaint about an inaccurate reference to the Minister of Supply made during a public address by a “well-known woman who is an ex-member of Parliament.” This was an obvious reference to Mrs W. J. Poison, whose husband intervened to say that “the la<sy concerned” bad withdrawn her statement and apologised for it. Several Opposition members stoutly defended the Press, and Mr N. A. Sheat and Mr R. G. Gerard carried the war into the enemy camp with specific charges against the Labour Party’s own newspapers. “ Sat with Real Dictators ” Much time during the week was occupied by the wrangle over hospital rating. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, who described the hospital rate as “a miserable way of pillaging those who owned land,” moved an amendment which the Prime Minister described as “a deliberate attempt to trap the Government.” Mr F. Hackett then moved a further amendment, very cleverly worded so as to relieve the Government members on the Local Government Committee from embarrassment, and this, in turn, was described by Mr Poison as “ a subterfuge to enable the eight Government members on the Committee to run away from its, report ”

Mr Fraser is not usually regarded as a property-owner, but his phrase, “ any of us who own sections in this city," suggested that possibility. He was very genial and jocular, but seized the opportunity to repudiate Mr J. N. Massey’s charge that he is a dictator. “I’ve sat in this House with men who were real dictators,” he said, "men who would shake a fist in the faces of their followers if they did not do what they were told. I would not dare to do that.” This no doubt was an allusion to the late Mr W. F. Massey, and it was perhaps a pity that his son was not in the House at the time. An interesting disclosure by Mr A. J. Murdoch during this discussion was that the report of the Local Government Committee cost £7OO to print. Mr Semple’s Silence Mr Semple’s indiscreet description of President Truman as “the tool of the money, gangsters ” occasioned a brief but tense discussion on Monday! when Mr Fraser assured the House that Mr Semple would “put the matter fight in another place.” Mr Semple, who was in his place at the time, had nothing to say, but it must have been a mortifying moment. Mr K. J. Holyoake, just back from England, spent an hour or two in the House on Tuesday prior to going on to his home at Dannevirke. He looked fit. but perceptibly thinner, having lost a stone in weight through the combined effects of British rationing and strenuous travel. A statement on the election date was promised by Mr Fraser, and members waited eagerly for it, but it had not come when the House adjourned. Opposition members take a cynical view of the delay, and some of them say the Government is trying to fix a date which will be most advantageous to itself. The 1943 election was held on September 25, a Saturday, but it is now thought that the Labour Party tacticians pin their hopes on a December election, and will choose a weekday because this would allow the industrial vote to be more efficiently mobilised from a political point of view.

The most important event of the week was the release of a list of Labour candidates, which suggested that the selection of candidates for some of the new metropolitan constituencies must have been accompanied by a good deal of backstage discussion. It is known that the Labour organisation has been concerned for some time over the weakness of its back benches in the House, where there is nothing like the robust debating strength or range of talent that is to be found in the corresponding positions on the Opposition side. In an effort to rectify matters, men like Mr A. McLagan and Mr M. Moohan, who are vigorous and capable exponents of the Labour philosophy, have been given seats which should ensure their election to Parliament. Shadows of the Polls Whether Mr Nash would contest Petone or Hutt, which is not nearly such a safe seat from the Labour viewpoint, has been the theme of much speculation, now set at rest by the announcement that Mr Moohan will be the candidate for Petone, where he is almost certain of election. He is already a familiar figure around Parliament Building, being a frequent visitor to Ministerial offices and invariably a guest at State functions and receptions. In Auckland, Mr W. T. Anderton. whose majority last time was perilously narrow. has. found a secure haven in Auck-' land Central, while the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr Parry, . has secured the coveted Arch Hill nomination after representing the neighbouring Auckland Central electorate for 25 years. It is believed that the Speaker, Mr F. W. Schramm, will have a stiff fight in Parnell, while Mr F. Langstone’s prospects in Roskill are so dubious as to suggest that his party may no longer value his services very highly. With the announcement of lists of candidates by both sides, there is a quickening of interest in the election, and members from now on will find their interest divided between the claims of parliamentary business and the siren call of their constituencies