People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 8

People and Their Doings.

Mr Massey’s Drawn Blinds And “Fighting Mac” : Mr Bodkins Maiden Speech : The Rev Clyde Carr And The Football Match : Talkative New Zealanders.

MR CLYDE CARR, M.P., was one of the few members of the House of Representatives who arrived from Wellington this morning and when a friend expressed surprise that he should have absented himself from the House last night, he replied: “ But I simply could not miss the big match at Timaru to-day.” Members of Parliament as a rule like to do the popular thing, and in Timaru to-day the popular thing at present is to show a keen interest in the match against the British team. Mr Carr is remembered in Christchurch more particularly for his fervid espousal of the socialisation c£ the milk supply, which some Labourites consider was a primary cause of the disaster that overtook them at the last municipal elections, but he will be remembered by a larger circle as announcer at 3YA. 9 9 9 gOMETIMES it is quite possible to believe that Mr Carr is still announcing from 3YA, because the latest announcer there is also an echo of him, without so many of the frills and pauses and asides Mr A. L. Currie, the present announcer, was for some eighteen months announcer at 4YA, Dunedin. He is a young man, who at one time had some success in elocutionary items at competitions. if the rhetorical sword with which public speakers afflict their audiences is not often two-edged, like the one that smote Mr Atmore so sorely at the Post and Telegraph Association’s dinner, uniting discourtesy with long-windedness, it is time speakers were reminded that he is a wise man who says little. Strangely enough our national tendency to garrulity is indulged more in public by men than by women, for whatever may be the reason, women manage to say more in fewer words. But women everywhere are notable after-dinner speakers. In an after-dinner speech, however, rambling reminiscences are more per-* missible than in a speech before a social gathering. In the one case a gentle flow of words may be something of a sedative, in the other it is anathema. In a programme where speeches are expected, too frequently it is the foolish whose oil runs not out.

MACPHERSON, whose nomination by the Reform Opposition to the chairmanship of committees, provoked lively discussion in the House, is known as “Fighting Mac.” At the general election of 1922 Mr Macpherson was returned with a majority of half-a-dozen, but his election was subsequently upset. It was after this that he gained this name in the historic by-election for the Oamaru seat in 1923. He fought single-handed against not only his opponent, Mr E. P. Lee, but also the Prime Minister, Mr Massey, who made the election an appeal for personal support. But Mr Macpherson won the seat by a substantial majority. It is related that when Mr Massey travelled from Oamaru through to Lyttelton, the blinds of his carriage were kept closed and callers were refused admittance. §2? 12? N° JL IE who has presided at the Supreme Court at Christchurch has displayed a keener appreciation of the rules of procedure than Mr Justice Kennedy. Any person, be he official, counsel, witness, accused, or spectator, who trespasses on the rules is brought firmly to the realisation that he is in the wrong. A rule which is commonly broken by counsel is that which does not permit of leading questions being put to the witness during an examina-tion-in-chief. During the hearing of a case yesterday Mr Saunders as counsel for one of the parties was taken to task for an infringement of this nature. “I have repeatedly asked you not to lead the witness,” said his Honor, “and yet you must persist.” “I am sorry, sir,” apologised Mr Saunders, “but I am absent-minded on that point.” “You are too absent-minded altogether about it, Mr Saunders,” replied his Honor emphatically. ]Yj£R BODKIN, who has been elected Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives, in launching the address in reply debate in the 1929 session, delivered a most forceful and provocative speech, that was quite off the beaten track as far as maiden speeches are concerned. It aroused the Reform Opposition benches to such an extent that there were many interjections, and nervous laughter at some of the points he made. Maiden speeches are usually listened to in silence. It became obvious at once that Mr Bodkin was a hard-hitting, two-fisted Southerner. As a new member he showed

a sound knowledge of national affairs. His training as a lawyer has been of great value to him, and he is a man who should go a long way ir? Parliament. ® THE CRICKET MATCH at ’ Lord’s today, reminds a correspondent of an Eton and Harrow match he once attended many years ago, concerning which the following story was told. Amongst the spectators was Lord Lytton, and seated next to him was a rather pretty young matron named Birch, to whom he was presently introduced. Lytton smiled in rather a peculiar manner, and the lady evidently noticed it, for she inquired: “Are you acquainted with any of the Birches?” “Oh, yes,” was the reply, “I knew some of them intimately while at Eton; indeed, more intimately than I cared to.” “Sir,” replied the lady, “you forget that the Birches are relatives of mine.” “And yet they cut me,” said his lordship ; “but”—with a smile—“l have never felt more inclined to kiss the rod than I do now.” © 9 9 LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS enjoy a life of ease compared with the hectic existence of the members of the House of Representatives, who are answerable to the electors at the end of the term of Parliament. The magnificence of the seating and furnishings of the Upper Chamber are often viewed with envious eyes by members of the Lower House, who consider that the difference between the two chambers is greater than it should be. The reason, of course, is obvious. It is the Legislative Council Chamber that the Governor-General goes to for the reading of the Speech from the Throne, and most ceremonial events in the life of Parliament take place there. But apart from these important State occasions the Legislative Council is not visited to any great extent by the general public during a session of Parliament. Often it happens that the members of the Upper Chamber find it difficult to work up debates, although when they do stage a full-dress debate they take the matter very seriously. Many of the members “arrive there” after having rendered good service to their party in the Lower House, and few people begrudge them a little ease and luxury in the later years of their life. This morning quite a large batch of Legislative Councillors arrived from Wellington, while the majority of the members of the Lower House were compelled to remain behind attending to matters of State.