The Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 11 (Supplement)

The Passing Show.

Comment and Criticism.

(By “Free Lance.") THE ACTION of the Coalition Govern- Lang in his eighteen months’ term of office ment in cancelling official recogni- co , u , l ' s l e ’ bave be . mad ® tion of the Post and Telegraph aa sb ° u , ld ba the ? ase * tbe . , p< ;° p l d p.p™ Employees’ Association will, no South Wales ha\e th roug 5 1 doubt, be strongly canvassed Some will s Sly bought. New South Wales’ cornel : H o O cM rS f Conde T' U . n r n U K te f T experience of a Labour regime has not been seems a drastic step on the face of it, but it h , lt brought paralysis to the muniis not improbable that the association, 1 / Sydne = and left an Augean stable through its executive, has largely itself to 1 ’ cleansed . J lt ls to be feared, however; biame, for without doubt there has been an , t) t k whlcll devolved upon the Civic inclination of recent months to strike an ar- great as it was, will prove as rogant and militant note and to trench more o °, hi Spared with that confronting Mr deeply than seemly into party politics. The «, § levcn £ who has succeeded Mr Lang fact must not be overlooked that the Civil g e } f th ’ 0 Slate . ]Io will need a stout Servants are not altogether on the same , * , _ o „nno„iiv platform as those in private employ; they llcart and m “ cl1 P^ inatd >- have peculiar privileges, and their obligations are different. The association originally was called into being to further the interests of its members in the service; its ostensible aim was to co-operate with the heads, to point out anomalies which must be present in such a large body and to in every way endeavour to Increase efficiency in the service

A correspondent to the Times during the week put in a word for those Ministers who are endeavouring to contend with the unemployment problem. With the sentiments expressed In that letter “Free Lance" finds himself completely in accord. Messrs Forbes and Coates are hoeing a hard row, and in carrying out their task they have a right to look to the people, whose burden they are shouldering, for sympathy and cooperation. How gigantic their task Is, few realise; but a large number, judging by their casual comments, are convinced that they could do It better. Probably if thej essayed It, they would find themselves in the predicament of the old church elder who was continually criticising the preaching of his minister. The latter being called away one Sunday persuaded the critic lo take the pulpit. Full of confidence lie agreed, but he found the task more difficult than he anticipated. The words would 'not come and he could' not get any inspiration. Finally, in desperation, ho leaned over tho pulpit and said, “If any of ye want the conceit laldn out o’ ye, come up here.” It was an eloquent and forceful sermon ho unwittingly delivered and it made a great Impression upon both preacher and hearer. The application should not be lost in these dais when those who are heroically striving to give of their best are so vigorously and scathingly criticised by those who do not realise the magnitude of the task attempted.

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These alms are worthy and commendable, and the administration exercised wisdom and discretion In granting privileges and facilities for their accomplishment. When, however, those privileges and facilities are used for purposes altogether foreign to the object for which they were granted the administration cannot be blamed for cancelling them. The boycott at the Thames, the philandering with political parties, the presumption of advising the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance as to how they should run the country, and their openly expressed chagrin _ that the Prime Minister considered in a time of national crisis that there were more important matters to attend to than to receive a deputation of subordinates who desired to lay a policy before him, all tend to indicate that ■the executive desires to pose as masters rather than servants and to call the tune to which responsible Ministers should dance. As a member of the Government expressed it, the position was intolerable, and the opinion outside the service will certainly endorse the action of the Cabinet in withdrawing privileges which have apparently been grossly abused

“Free Lance," who scans the correspondence columns of The Waikato Times somewhat thoroughly, was rather surprised upon reading a contribution under the heading “Facing Vital Issues” to note that the writer contended that the teaching of The Master has no connection with present day problems—that in fact it deals only with spiritual matters and has nothing to do with materialistic issues. This reasoning seemed strange to “Free Lanco ; +Ho H p h !?,t d somehow r conceived the idea that the Chr stiaii religion should have a most potent inllucnce on the lives and conduct of those who profess to accept its teaching. The writer of the epistle referred to may have badly expressed his view's. If tho churc. and Christianity do not affect those who espouse it, why spread it? Why not leave the heathen in his blindness? Why pieach. a more excellent way? Do not the of James “Show' me your faith without vour works and I will show you my faith by my works” strike hard at the root of the contributor’s contention? Whilst (not at all disparaging the competence of tho writer to deal with other vital issues, “Free Lance" cannot accept him as an authority on Christianity's ethics.

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Developments in New South Wale's have been-dramatic. Mr Lang’s last bill was a nightmare to all who had any investments In the State. Introduced Into the Assembly its passage through that chamber was regarded as a matter of course, though it was generally thought It would have short shrift in the Legislative Council. A majority of five there in favour of the Bill on the second reading shook-all property owners out of their complacency, and convinced them that they were on the brink of a financial abyss. The intervention of the State Governor was most opportune and enabled one and all Jo heave a sigh of relief, for Sir Philip Game’s action has put an altogether different complexion upon many matters. There has been much wild talk of a revolution in the Mother State. If that had eventuated with Mr Lang at the head of affairs pulling contrary to the Commonwealth, It would have put a decidedly complicated aspect on affairs However, there is now reason to hope that the nightmare has passed, and that the Lang regime will soon be as an unpleasant dream. The mischief wrought by Mr John Thomas