THE WEEK’S PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15955, 25 October 1919, Page 5

THE WEEK’S PARLIAMENT.

PEEPS FROM THE FENCE. (Our Own Correspondent.) THE END AT HAND. The session is rapidly drawing to a close, and it appears that very few members will be found wailing when the flag is hauled down finally. It is quite safe to say that quite a number of members, excellent as they consider themselves, will not have the pleasure of saying “Mr Speaker” next session. There is one certainty, either Mr Ell or Mr McConibs will be “out outer,” for, both are standing for the same seat, Lyttelton. The odds are with the latter. In the meantime important Bills are being rushed through tho House like pork through a sausage machine. RACING PERMITS. The question of permits for racing was again before the House this week in the shape of a question as to why it was that Hawke’s Bay, with a total population of 54,267 persons, should have 24 days’ racing, and Taranaki, with a population of about 56,000, had but 11 days. The Minister in charge of the permits (Hon. J. B. Hine) stated that the allocation was in accordance with the recommendations of tho Gaming Commissioners of 1910 and 1914. 1 He mentioned that population was not the only factor to be taken into consideration. What the other factors were he did not mention, but they are very obscure, and should be trotted out into the daylight for exhibition purposes. They would draw a crowd. PAMPERED PEOPLE. There are quite a lot of people in this world who are never satisfied. The Government has been most liberal to Civil Servants, who, by the way, appear to be martyrs iu the eyes of some people. They have been provided with an excellent superannuation scheme, but some are not even satisfied with that. ■ The latest thing is a request for special railway privileges for superannuated railway men and their wives. How about the poor old general public, who receive no State benefits at all, having a look in at some of thee© privileges? FRUIT AND ITS PRICE. We hear a whole lot in Parliament about fruit. Nelson, Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, and Auckland are never done talking about it. They say_ there are hundreds of tons of apples in the country that cannot be marketed for the want of space in ships. One member stated during the week that a record crop was expected in Auckland. Seeing that such reputable gentlemen as members of Parliament make these assertions, it is rather curious that the poor citizens of the, Dominion have to pay 8d or lOd for a single pound of apples in a shop; and then they are not up to much. Possibly we will awaken some day. CURIOUS STUNTS. Members of Parliament do carious things. They vote against their party, they swear at each other in Parliamentary language (adding something sotto voce); they go to sleep and put their boots ((feet inside) bn the benches, but the best yet put on came up on Wednesday, when a very prominent member walked right through the chamber armed most ostentatiously with a shaving brush, a stick of soap, and a safety razor. He appeared to be quite oblivious to tho incongruity of his effort. “THE POOR MAORI.” The manner in .which the natives of this country arc indulged is most entertaining. Every time any legislation appertaining to our dusky friends comes before the House a plethora of suspicious pakehas immediately assail the measure and accuse the promoters of endeavouring to rob the Maori, a rather difficult proposition by the way. A Native Land Bill came before the House during the week, and it was at once pounced upon by the valiant protectors of the Maori. It was rather curious to see such intellectual Maoris as Dr. Pomare and Mr Ngata (barrister) declare that they were quite satified that the natives’ interests were being safeguarded, hut even that did not satisfy some of the talkative members who appear to know more about the Maoris’ business than ,their own. GOVERNMENT AS LAND AGENT. There are huge areas of land held in this country by the Government, who alone has the right to dispose of it. Recently further, acquisitions were made, and one member who is renowned for his facetiousness asked the Prime Minister whether the Government had turned itself into a land agency. IN QUEER COMPANY. Mr McCallum is anything but an extreme Labourite, yet he allied himself with the hard element in tho House on Wednesday night. There was a discussion on an amendment to the Police Offences Act, and several members, mostly Labour, objected to persons charged with sedition, or “lawlessness,” being tried summarily, they wanted a trial by jury. Mr Mcfcallum agreed with them, and when a division was taken he found himself practically alone with the Labour members. It is heraly likely that he will worry about it. It is hardly likely that Mr McCallum will he briefed for a sedition case, but it is known that the fees for the Supreme Court are far higher than those applying to an appearance in the S.M. Court. SAMOA. The Islands of Samoa (called by most members Sam Moa, which sounds like a Chinese laundryman), have been much in the limelight of late. The kick-off was in connection with indentured labour, several members with advanced ideas strongly objecting to it. Few members appear to realise that Samoa is in the tropics, and that no white man can apply the same amount of labour per day as can a native, Chinese, Indian, or any other on that account. They also overlook the fact that the ignorant coolie, unless tied down, is somewhat hopeless. That stamp of member gets up in the House and rants for hours against indentured labour, but he rarely knows what he is talking about, and eventually finds himself in the consomme. It may be a consolation to a lot of folk in this country (who probably do not care tuppence) to know that in future Samoa is to have civil administration, and not military. MAJOR AND CAPTAIN. • Since the return of our men from

the war, it has boon the custom of civilians to call demobilised officers by their military rank. Introductions arc usually made; “This is Major gunpowder, Mr Snifkins.” liven in the House the Speaker used to call upon Major Hine, Major Coates, and so on. But the bubble has been burst, pricked, or busted. The great military authority, Colonel the Hon. Sir James Allen has laid it down that demobilised officers shall be called plain, common or garden Mister,