SANDY'S CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1949, Page 4

SANDY'S CORNER

NUMERALS: THE XIII, THE SEVEN AND THE NOUGHT’ Sid Holland's Government took office on the 13th of the month. Sid himself is not. perturbed about it. Mum is. She always dodges a ladder, throws salt over a shoulder if she spills it, never takes a cigarette light off the third match. But she has received some consolation in regard to the National Government, from “Sevens.” “Sevens” advances seven facts about the changes and trends of Governments in the once Socialist, now Nationalist. Isles: (1) The Labour Party became the New Zealand Government in 1935 and Mr. S. G. Holland entered Parliament—l93s is five-sevenths of the century (five sevens are 35); (2> the Labour Government ruled and Mr. Holland was conditioned for office in 14 years (two “ sevens); (3) Labour Party retired and National Party took office in 1949 (seven sevens); (4) This was the seventh seventh cycle of years of a century (the sixth seventh cycle ended in 1942); (5) The seventh year of such seventh seventh cycle of years; (6) Present indications are that the National Party has won seven seats from Labour and one from Independent Labour; (7) The Labour Cabinet resigned on December 7. The “serening,” as shown in items 1,3, 4, and 5 above, is possible only once in 109 years, says “Sevens.” Let the wise put on their considering caps. As for us, we are aware that there is more than most people think in the number “seven.” But, like most of the great population, we think no deeper than what the eye can*see. And how far can it see in this change of Government? “Fan.” of the Cliff, says that, the whole thing comes back io that figure so cherished by Walter Nash—the “nought.” Mr. Nash is reported to have said when twitted about the “hundreds and millions' of his Budget: “What do a few noughts matter?” “Now,” says “Fan,” with the tang of the salt, spray in her voice, j “Mr. Nash's Government, Mr. Government, have both been brought to “nought”