The Peep Show

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 8

The Peep Show

PARLIAMENT IN Notes from the GalW (By L.J.C.) WELLINGTON, | We have gone a. full week tat® w coimtry'3 business na pause and see just where j—see what a muddle things sr* posed to be in. The Govern®^. . j reputed to be critically i. -'idetf, phrase “new parties'* is being ' I buted with reckless unccncern by .’Opposition, the newly revived - leader is confldent (that's afl publication ar. the moment) and & ■ Nationals do not quite know \ they axe. The off-shoots of -_h« . form Party—the left. wing, if yill ■ | sis-—give one the impression 1 ; they know they axe in the book g . right, but are still searching far .; page. * * • ' The speeches in the .Uiraasj,. ; t Reply had not contained a world t| inspiration, and in the main rnembigj have made hard going of their prav leged hour in which to tell the all about things. There have beem, sparks, no fire, no vim, in the Lefcnr i ! debate —with the sole exceptk*. ; ! naps, of the Leader of the Party ■ j self —and when the amendment h ; posed of and the debate Anally cknej, - it will possibly be recorded la a, annals of political gossip as one (f ; Labour's lost opportunities. » • • How flattered most be the no« )f and seconder of the Addr«ws-ln Ragy when they have thrust upon a® : showers of congratulations tram g sides of the chamber —alway* *£ the qualiflcation: “According to tk> time-honoured custom of the House Opposition members did not clott- ! their sentiments under the cloak g platitude, but became quite fraakI brutally so. sometimes—in their 4» scription of the two initial speed®. One of the moat original conies fra* Mr. J. A. Lee, who detects a jo-tug individuality in the two addrass*. Good intentions, he reminds tbt j House, do not necessarily create i good duet, and while the mover chirped happily like a bird an ih spring morn: “Bright, bright, bright," and sang in terms cf “Land of Han and Glory,” the seconder smeared th horizon with grey. Well, perhaps h was "looking at the world throvgi i smoke-coloured glasses and everyth!* was dismal now!" m • m Opposition forces were marshsSal outside the Government gates in pounded incessantly, but with acts effect, at the camplacent Mimstsn and the faithful tail of the big paztj The Minister of Education decidai that now was the time for ail goal men to come to the aid of the part? This he did, and burst with refracting suddenness into the shrewdlycreated atmosphere of domestic dbsention. in which the Labour ui National parties had enveloped tkt Government and it 3 followers. US Minister must provide a kind of bask stop 4jt his side, for twice duringlh week has he sprung into the braa** in vigorous defence of his Minislahl colleagues and his party. None cadi have handled the job better—era , though he did in the heat of debts admit that: "It’* all very well to re--1 main a happy family when your fa* lily is small.” Lump after lump must have rtara in the Prime Minister's throat —to ta hurriedly swallowed, of course—aha the member for Gisborne r.hreateai to leave him to solve his own and flu country's problems if things were net "done” very shortly. Mr. Lysnar, that unfailing ray of sunlight in the Opposition’s grey day. has decided flat now is the time for action. Justbov seriously he was accepted by his ovt colleagues was rapidly manifest A certain Minister yawned profusely and said sleepily: "Oh. another party!” As the Hon. R. A- Wrigfc points out, “These axe good fellows, and they will be there when the didsion bells ring.” But will they? . . . The Government is surely gea** I cMng3 done in Samoa —and the S* moans axe apparently not too pleased about it. Just what will happen should appear more clearly next vwi | when the Minister for Externa! AJGEain returns from his visit to the Island* If Mr. Nos worthy cannot clear' the decks, well, what about Mr. HoUarfs Parliamentary committee to Samoa in the recess? Surely the members themselves could straighten tiling* out. There does seem to be than milk in this particular co«o«nt * m m Which is general and which is and file ? This question is | asked about Sir Joseph Ward ani3tW. A. Veitch. both of whom are prj feased Liberals. The position is obscure, and it was suggested in House during the week that tbs erala were all generals with no r*** and file. As Mr. Veitch left Jg chamber, one member shouted: Liberal Party is outski—the party has gone.** Mr. Veitch is fectly serious, however, and is ’ ra ®' ing quietly, patiently, for the tionals to meet and ask him to things . over. There is just the pos®*" bility that Mr. Veitch will have » invite himself to talk things o* €r with the Nationals.