WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 21 July 1925, Page 7

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

HAPPENINGS IN THE HOUSE

A LIBERAL’S “CRITICISM.”

(Special Correspondent). Press Gallery, Saturday

The first event of importance during this week in Parliament was thei iutoiment of the Addrcss-in-Iteply debate, which, by the way, was long overdue. Before it was sent to its eternal rest, however, the L/&boui* .Party had. to liavo a few parting kicks at the corpse, and also gave it a belabouring with some bones dragged from thq, cost-of-living skeleton. These arguments, the Minister of Education rightly said, had grown hoary with age, as they had been used ten times already during the present Parliament. Perhaps the Minister could have gone a good deal further, but the canons of delicacy forbade him. . The Labour amendment regarding public servants’ salaries and the Arbitration Court received the support of the Liberals (now to be known as the Nationalists), but it was defeated by a fairly comfortable margin, and then the most delightful speech of the whole debate was made by Mr J. It. Corrigan, the member for Patea. Mr Corrigan does not pretend to boast of an oratorical style of speech, but ho calls a spade a spade, and generally gives the impression that he would bo most unhappy in the role of a diplomat. Anyhow, having been the seconder of Mr Atmore’s amendment calling for the formation of a National Government, which presumably meant that he was ready to join hands with tho present Reform Government if it was likeminded, Mr Corrigan could not allow the Address-in-Reply to be presented to His Excellency without passing a few observations as to tho shortcomings ancl general ineptness of tho Government.

“NOT A WISHBONE.”

The Reform Party, he considered, should be christened “The Spineless Party,” because tho country wanted a Government with a backbone. “Not a wishbone,” chimed in Mr J. A. Nash, thei representative from Palmerston North, who set out by interjection to make Mr Corrigan feel as uncomfortable as possible. Perhaps Mr Corrigan’s best effort was when lie said that tho Prime Minister “had been blown up by the newspapers, but would be pricked like a balloon and come down with a thud.” This bon mot was received with roars of laughter, which wero repeated when Mr Corrigon wont on to say that what wo had been having in the past three years was a Government of “l übber stamps and political phonographs,” tho Ministers of which wero merely “political marionettes worked from behind tho scenes.”

While he was on the job, the member for Patea took occasion to christen Colonel Allen Bell (Bay of Islands), the “Cock o’ tho North,” and then warned the newest recruit to the House Mr McLennan (Franklin), that after he had been in the House for about three years he would feel like tho speaker-—“very much out of place.” As this observation nonkl either ho taken as a backhanded compliment to the Liberals with whom Mr Corrigan is associated, or ns a prediction of what is likely to happen to Mr McLennan if he is unfortunate enough to heave further dealings with the Reformers after next general election, it could scarcely ho wondered at that both sides of the House laughed. “Ho. will realise after he has been here a few months,” continued Mr Corrigan, “tbnt this wonderful machine of Parliament and the cajolery and chicanery that goes on, is something he has not been used to as a producer.” This was enough to dampen anybody’s enthusiasm, but Mr McLennan seemed to indicate in Lis reply to tho debate that, although it v-ns lmlf-past, one, in ihe morning, he liked being in Parliament very much, at any rate, quite as much as tho 7D other members of the House.

“DROWNED TN THE DA I R Y POOL.” But the brightest part of Mr Corrigan’s lively outburst was when lie effectually silenced Mr Nash, who had been worrying him like a gnat all the time ho had .hoc 1 ’ sneaking. “What about th© Dairy Poolf” broke in Mr

Nash whilst tho member for Patea was advocating the merits of. trade within the Empire. . ‘‘lt’s a pity you weren’t drowned in it, was Mi Cor. 1gan’s fierce' retort. My Nash did not again attempt to make himself obThursdav saw the Government bring down a, sheaf of nine Bills, tho first of its leeishnive measures for the session, and on the following night they got through five second readings. Ihe most important of tho Bills is that relating to child welfare, which proposes the establishment of children’s courts on which women will be associated with specially selected magistrates. . Mr Sidey again trotted out his little pel lamb—the Summer Time Bill—on Thursday night, in a forlorn effort to oonvinco members that its fleece was still as white as snow, but as no vote was taken, it is presumed that its slaughter was deferred until the conv m'itteo stage is reached. Air Sidey has wasted many mnnv hours of electric liMit over Ills daylight-saving Bills in tho House, hut apparently ho is still content to keep on with, his educative propaganda from daylight till dark, and all night if necessary.

THE “GNASHTON ALTSTS. ’ ’ Friday’s events were marked by nothing special in tho House, hut they wore”outside, for after tho House rose for tho night Mr Wilford announced the birth of tho National Party. As it is stated that tho Prime Minister contemplated changing the, name of the Reform Party to the National Party, or some such cognomen, it was quite natural that, lie should accuse the Liberals of “.stealing ihe Reform Party’s thunder.” “We are the true. National Party,” says Mr Conies, which suggests that the electors will very soon have ft pretty problem to solve. It may ho that there are some politicians who think that two National Parties arc hotter Hum one, but it is to ho feared that, if tho two dominant parties nro going to quarrel over one another’s thunder, AH' Holland may become disgruntled . because no one wants to “pinch”, his lightning. Tiro course of events in the next few weclrs will lie. looked forward to with no small degree of interest.