AT THE TEA TABLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12011, 13 March 1920, Page 5

AT THE TEA TABLE.

SOME TOPICAL TALKS. . • S 5 “Mr Massey has told the railway men that if is time to pause,” ‘remarked the Scribe, ‘‘and reminded them that they should not be dissatisfied, because the wages have been fixed by a Board themselves wished to have set up f ” ‘ ‘I cannot follow the reasoning that led him to -make those remarks, ” said the Critic/ “nor do I see thac it helps matters to detail the increase they have received since the war broke out. The hard fact still remains that the wages they now receive are Insufficient to meet the increased cost of living.” «

“The railwaymen should ask him . to arrange that the rising of the cost shall pause,” said the Cynic. “He and his colleagues should use every effort to have the reduced. That cannot bo done by legislation, to which the politicians naturally turn. It can only be done by removing the causes, and most of these have been artificially created py ourselves. This subject is daily increasing in importance, not only to .. the railwaymen, but to everybody else, and the politicians who wish to keep their billets will be forced to give it attention,” “I notice that the secretary of the Railwaymen'a Society has plainly shown that the present wages are inadequate,” said the Sage, “and that the purchasing power of the sovereign they . earn is now only ten shillings. Obviously the first and best thing to do is to restore the purchasing power of the sovereign. The cost of living hare ought to be cheaper than anywhere else in the world, for it is truly h land of plenty. It is only man’s folly, aided by blundering politicians that has made it otherwise, and in such matters as this it is always possible for man to undo what he has done. ”

“You have a very recent example of what is happening and how the vicious circle widens,” said the Critic. “The minors have jnst secured'an increase of wages, and up goes the price of coal 2s 6d per ton, so -that everybody else will now require more income to pay their share of the increase. Possibly that increase will amount to very much more than the companies will have to pay the miners, but these things always work that way. And then some people marvel and wonder why the sovereign is now worth only half a sovereign!” “The Jap politicians seem to have an easy method for getting out of tight corners,” remarked the Politician. “When the people become restless and clamorous and their representatives are headstrong, the Premier simply goes to the Emperor and gets authority to dissolve.the Parliament.”

“That is a dangerous game,” said the Critic. “That is how the Czar and the Kaiser used to govern, and where are they nov.’V It is dangerous to block the safety valve, for it assuredly will lead to ultimate explosion. You must not forget, too, that during the last few years Socialism has made tremendous advances in Japan, and that many there therefore no longer regard the Emperor as the Son of Heaven, who can do no wrong. It is not unlikely that he will soon bo removed from power, as his Heaven-born Chinese brother was recently. The high handed action of the Japanese Premier is very likely to hasten great changes in his country, and the old order may pass away to make room for the new.’’

“Talking of rulers,” sa ? d the Scribe, “what do you think of the Petticoat Government of America? Apparently in the united state over there the grey mare Is indeed the better horse. We are told that the President’s wife has really been conducting all the State affairs.” “That accounts for much that was mysterious and crazy,” said the Cynic. “We must now acquit Woodrow of blame for many foolish things thafcjiave been done.” “It seems, to me, ” said the Politician, “that if the cabled statement is true it raises some important questions. Firstly, did the people elect Mrs Wilson, and if not, why does she rule?”

“No. the people did not elect her,” said the Spinster. “The President was not married when he was elected.”

“Then, ” said the Politician, “if a President’s wife is to rule, surely the people should have had some say in his choice of one. Apparently she has stepped into power by accident. ”

“Can yon . call any marriage an accident,” said theiCynic. “Is not a marriage always the result of design? She is not the first woman who has seized the reins of government. She is only driving a larger and more important equipage than the average woman. Possibly the only reason the poor fellow wrote those multitudinous notes was that he might at least display the semblance of power while the lady was exercising the real authority. Then she could keep the secret no longer, and told it to a bosom friend as a secret, and of course it was blurtel out.”

“I glory in her power and influence,” said the Spinster, “and I am sure that things will go right under her management. ” ‘‘They do not appear to be doing so just now in the States,” said the OyDIG. - *c&&~^~^Viraxsr.QX.*sarz3 “'.‘‘Theyiootball frenzy still tinues in the Homeland,” “remarked the Critic. ‘‘Fancy sixty thousand people witnessing a match! -What a waste ef time and money!” “Steady!” said the Cynic. ‘‘What about the hundred thousand who gather to see a Melbourne Cup race run? What about the many hundreds of thousands of pounds t that change hands on our racecourses every year? First cast the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s q.q ' * A JAYE PENNE.