THE STONEWALL IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18900, 26 October 1929, Page 31 (Supplement)

THE STONEWALL IN PARLIAMENT.

TAXATION RETAINS ITS UNPOPULARITY. (Written for the “Star” by E. J. HOWARD, M.P.) “The greatest benefactor of the human race died more than half a million years ago. He was a hairy creature with a low brow and sunken eyes, a heavy jaw and strong, tiger-like teeth. He would not have looked well in a gathering of modern scientists, but they would have honoured him as their master. For he had used a stone *,o break a nut and a stick to lift up a i heavy boulder. He was the inventor of the hammer and the le\ T er, our first tools, and he did more than any human being who came after him to give man his enormous advantage over the other animals with whom he shares this planet.”—Van Loon.

Man is a curious kind of animal and he must have something to growl about or he is exceedingly unhappy. We know very little about this curious creature really. We have learned men studying him in his primitive state such as exists in Australia; we have others studying him as he advances from stage to stage. As a saint—al-most—-and as a criminal we have men searching and studying the why and wherefore of this curious animal. Of course, we pride ourselves that we know all about ourselves, but we cannot understand why the other fellow should act in such a simple manner. What caused J;hat row in Palestine recently? Why should men and women, for that matter, go almost mad over a piece of a wall of a ruined temple? And yet we know warships and troops had to be called in because one section of human beings, who worship at a shrine dedicated to Mahomet, and another who worship Jahveh, got into holts over what is known as the “Wailing Wall.” It appears one section had started to build tents and to screen off parts of this ancient will that is said to be part of Solomon’s temple, but the other section, who claim that it is the remnants of the wall that at one time formed the Mosque of Omar, took umbrage at the building of these tents and screens, and the matter ended in bloodshed and an appeal to the League of Nations. Fear and Pride. Of course, such things could not happen in New Zealand, we say. And yet, I wonder! I have seen excited men and woman chasing a man around Cathedral Square of a Sunday evening because he was said to be a “Mormon.” Kindly religious people joined in that man-liunt, not knowing why, h-t because they were carried away. Fear and pride cause men to do things that later in fife they feel somewhat sorry for, and other things they boast about as being sporty. What is known as a “stonewall” in Parliament, although, strange to say, no 'honourable gentleman must use the word in Parliament, consists of those who want to oppose a measure, trying by every known means to prevent that measure from becoming law. Strange to say, those engaged in a “stonewall” keep strictly to the rules of the game. There is a standard of conduct and usage that they will not depart from. For instance, Sir Joseph Ward has been a very sick man for over a fortnight. How sick, no one knows, outside of a little inner group. All the rank and file know is that he has not been seen by anyone that one meets from day to day. Sir Joseph is supposed to be living in that part of Parliament that was once the home of the Governor However, the fact of Sir Joseph not being on the bridge means that the old ship of State is no.t steering 4s straight a course as it would do if the pilot were on the bridge.

llllllllllll||IIIII1!illi!lllll!lllllll|||IlFnillIiIIIIII|||}|Ili!|||!!!|}|J|J|!||||||||l|inillinilllJH Taxation Unpopular. The most important piece of legislation brought down this session is that dealing with taxation, naturally. When Parliament was first instituted it was brought into being for the purpose of “raising the wind,” or, in other words, to tax the people to enable the King to go to war and in times of peace to make the “King’s Highway” so that the King’s troops could be moved about. That is some years ago now, and the people have been taxed ever since, and yet they have not grown to like it. There is always a row when fresh taxation has to be levied. Things have changed somewhat since the row over the rights of' Parliament took place and to-day we levy for a host of things besides the King’s highways. True, 27 per cent of the taxes gathered in go for paying off war charges. That means over five millions of money. Then we want two and a quarter millions for interest on debts that we have contracted for other purposes beside war. We want six millions for social services, which means education, health, old age pensions, mental and other hospitals, and things like that. We spend over a million in defence. Then justice and law and order, other wise the courts, judges and policemen, cost half a million. We spend another half million in agriculture, mostly grants, subsidies, and things like that. Then the King's highway is rather a hungry item, because it manages to cost another million and a half. Finally there is a million and a quarter spent on public buildings. Parliament, lands, labour and the Internal Affairs Department. That means eighteen million and a half must be raised by taxing the people. New Avenues.

Naturally, again, all the people dislike being taxed, and consequently they break up into three groups. There are the farming group, the merchant group, and the workers. In a broad sense, these three groups are represented in Parliament by Reform, United Party and Labour. The lines are not ■ closely drawn between these three groups, because there are some merchants who belong to Reform, and some farmers who belong to the Uniteds. Also, in the ranks of the Labour Party, there are a number of struggling farmers as well as the actual wage workers. Last year the taxation did not bring in sufficient revenue by a little over half a million. So this year the Minister of Finance, who is also the Prime Minister, had to look for

some new avenues of taxation. There are landowners in this country who own some large portion of “God’s Own Country,” and who benefited financially by the increase in prices during the war, and it is claimed by both the United Party and the Labour Party that these people have not been paying their fair share towards the upkeep of our social services or towards paying for our share of the war. It is also argued by these two parties that large estates must carry more people. Little Sleep. So the Bill now before the House, and which the Reform Party are fighting with all their strength, is for the purpose of raising some more money to help balance the Budget, and to force some of these land-holders to let go some of their land for closer settlement. At the time of writing the Reform Party has been putting up a fight in what is termed a stonewall for the past forty-eight hours. For two nights very few members have had any sleep. Of course, one drops off in a doze now and again, and those not taking part in the stonewall coil themselves up in their seats. But those who have tried to sleep on a railway journey on an ordinary seat will realise how uncomfortable and how impossible it is to get a real sleep. Then, every two hours or so, the Reform Party manages to get a division taken and so everyone is called to the Chamber to vote. Let those who say bad things about Parliament and parliamentary procedure try to remember that the House consists of eighty earnest and able men, sent there to fight for those who sent them. Each of these men feels that he is bound to put up as good a fight as possible, and that s what Reform is doing now. Of course, this writer disagrees with them absolutely, and also thinks they are trying to shield these rich landowners. Labour believes that Reform let these people off too lightly right through the sixteen years thev were in power. Reform still claim that these people should not be taxed. That is the principal matter before Parliament this week, and for those who like to study men- and their behaviour it is interesting.

Down in the basement of Parliament House there is a Maori room. This is where our natives come to present then- grievances. Around the room there are a number of carvings. Here we see the Maori carved in wood, with snakes and other reptiles whispering to him. Each side of his head, each ®*. de . . of his chest, and even down by his hips, these curious prehistoric ancestors of our friends are pictured as

iiiiiiitiiiiimiiiMiimimiifliiiiiiiiiiniiHiiiiHiuiiiiiiiimiiiiiniiiin.MiiiinmiiimtiHim whispering to his head, his heart and his so6l. When one looks at the House after a long night sitting one can well believe in evolution, and that we have inherited and still retain some of the instincts and feelings of those wild things that inhabited this globe before man had made his appearance. This week has been decidedly interesting.