302
A disordeRLY PARLIAMENT
pow.r
and
(Daily Press, March 24th, 1922). BEFORE the war the Austrian Reichsrah was noted as the most disorderly Parlia men in the world. Its place would sen to have now been taken by the Japanes Die,
which, renowned before for its enes, has his year surpassed itself.
The Diet only meets for three or four months every year and occcupies a very negative place in the Constitution, the Bills placed before it by the Govenment being measures that have to be passed, whether the Diet is in agreement with them or not. Òecca- sionally slight amendments are allowed to be made as a sop to representative govern. ment, but rejection of the measures is an impossibility. Once, when the Govern- ment had a very recalcitrant Diet to deal with and it seemed possible that the Budget would be rejected, a higher
was invoked, an Imperial message to the Diet instructing it to pass the Budget produced the desired result. But such extraordinary measures are not often required, the Government, by means that can be surmised, being always able to command a majority. Perhaps it is because of its inability to sway the policy of the Government that the Opposition tends to fall into disorder as a despairing at empt to obstruct, if it cannot defeat, the Govern- ment. The goodness or badness of the measures proposed by the Government is of secondary importance; the object is to drive out the Government and obtain tie spoils of office. Of course, there are many members of the Diet inspired by higher motives, who really attempt to criticise the Government Bills from the point of view of the welfare of the country, and not their party's welfare, and it may be said that the standard of debate has risen of recent years, although party considera- tions still affect it to a great extent. But the disorderly element shows no signs of growing smaller and there is lacking that
esprit which in other and more ancient as- semblies unites all parties in preserving th dignity of the House.
The disorder in the Japanese Diet t' is year has centered round the question of the suffrage. For the past few years Bills have been introduced in the Diet for the granting of what is called "Universal Suffrage,' meaning ther by manhood suffrage. Last year there was a split between the two p position parties on the question of how far the suffrage should be extended, with the result that two Bills were introduced, both of which were defeated. This year the split has been healed, and a joint Bill has been in- troduced for granting the right to all men
Women over the age of 25.
are not mentioned, and it is thus a manhood suffrage measure. At pre ent the suffrage is confined to persons paying over a ceria n amount in direct taxes, and the number of voters is extremely limited, direct taxes practically not affecting the wo king classes. It is claimed, not without reason, that the small number of voters is the cause of the bribery which is so rampant at elections. Increase the number of voters and it would no longer be possible for any candidate to bribe them unless he was a millionaire. This. perhaps, is the strongest argument that the supporters of the measure have to adduce. Whether there is a demard for the suffrace am ng the people themselves it is difficult to say. Every year suffrage meeting are held at the time the Bill is introduced into the Diet, and crowds collect in the vicinity of the Diet while the debate is going on, but as soon as the inevitable
THE HONⱭKONG WEEKLY PRESS &
defeat of the measure comes the agitation dies down and nothing more is heard of it for another year. No doubt there is a certain amount of prestige in having a vote for election to the Diet, and the possibility of the vote being negotiable is another attraction, but the number of persons who think that it is any business of theirs what policy the Government follows does not seem to be large. The measure is not lack. ing in Press encouragement, however. Practically all the chief papers in the metropolis and in the other large cities are in favour of it, and a number of them r cently issued
a manifes o strongly advocating the passing of the measure without d lay in view of the growing unrest among the people.
PROFESSOR
PUPILS
[March 25th, 922.
DANENBERG'S RECITAL.
Bach, Chaminade, Schumann, Grieg, Chopin, Liszt, are names to conjure with in the world of music. On March 21st these composers, amongst others, were drawn upon to demonstrate the proficiency to whch Professor Danenberg's pupils have Most of attained under his guidance. the performances were feats of memoris- ing as well as of technique, but in this, expression, the necessary phrasing and
the light and shade which help to make a piece of music a picture appealing to the imagination, were not sacrificed. Most of the performances were well-nigh faultless. It is difficult to sing e out any of the young performers for special men- tion-indeed it would probably be unwise to do so. Ap-
That there is a growing unrest among the people cannot be denied, but whether the granting of manhood suffrage would compensate for the high cost of living and the growth of unemployment. the main causes of the unrest, is doubtful. parently the drafters of the manifesto think it would be a sop that would en-
courage the people to bear the ills they have in the hope that they would be able to right them in the near future, but the chief obstack to reform would not be overcome-that
is the low mora!
standard of their representatives and subservience to the Govern- their
The scenes that have taken place ment. in the Diet dnring the debate or rather during the introduction of the measure, for debate there was n ne-on the Suffrage Bill are significant. The rulings of the President of the Diet have been constantly defier, free fi.hts have been indulged in indis- irminately, members have been assaulted in the precincts of the Diet by other members, and, generally, pandemonium has reigned.
They varied in age as doubt- less they did in experience, but each play- ed as to the manner born and gave inter- pretations which speak well for the future. Master George Bond, the on y male soloist, in a group of four pieces, gave sprited renderings of
"
Schumann's
Horsemen and Grieg's "Sailor Song." Miss Daisy Witchell in two pieces which called for feeling, played with intelligence. Miss Lolly Carva ho
B fine'y gave
played rendering of a paraphrase In 0. Santissima." Misses L. Patton, Thelma May, Rosie performers, played daintily. Others who Kwok and Caroline Braga, all youthful contributed to the enjoyment of the large aud ence present, included Misses M. N. Alves, E. Cornel, M. Rosario, S. Re- medios, C. C. Alves, W. Robinson, A. Leon, L. Chenalloy, E. S. Kemedios, and E. Bell. Professor Danenberg and Miss Elfrida Osmund, submitted a Suite for Naturally the cause of manhood suffrage two planos by Louis Aubert, which was has not been improved by these tactics. superbly rendered. Miss Marie Senna a so joined the Professor in " Espana," also When the introduction of a
for two pianos, a piece bearing out its for increasing the responsibilities of title and giving great pleasure. The out the people is regarded by its sup-standing item of a diversifed programme Miss Elsa Aves' pertormance of porters as an occasion for showing their irresponsibility the conclusion is reached Channade's Concerstucke. Playing that there is lack of sincerity and that it is with case and a perfect technique, Miss merely an attempt to defeat the Govern- Alves surmounted the difficulties of the men or to obstruct public business. The intricate runs in which the piece abounds police authorities in Tokyo increased the and brought out all the beauties it pos- sesses. She was deservedly applauded. sensation by surrounding the Diet with wire entanglements and driving everybody The pupils had the benefit of performing on excellent examples of the pianoforte- maker's art
Bluthier Steinway and grands.
out of the
ineasure
neighbouring parks and squares. They also broke up all suffrage meetings and even roughly haudled some of the members of the Diet who were attend. ing them.
Of curse this attempt to suppress the agitation really gives it a very good advertisement, since the supporters of the measure can point to the ills that are now borne as arising out of the lack of the suffr.ge. I seems impossible nowadays to get any reform without some degree of violence, but the violence in this case seems to have been all on the side of the authori ties, except in the Diet, where many of the members behaved more like children than esponsi le legislators.
INCOME-TAX FROM WAGE EARNERS.
The estimated cost of assessment and collection of income-tax from wage earn- ers assessed quarterly for the year 1922-23 is £800,000 The estimated net produce of tax from this source for that year is £5 000.000. These figures are given by Mr. Hi ton Young (Financial Secretary to the Treasury) in a written reply to a question in the House of Commons.
was
""
BURGLAR WOUNDS
EUROPEAN.
HOUSEBREAKER SURPRISED AT
TAIKOO. ♦
Mr. C. H. Summers, residing at The Bungalow,' Taikoo, had an encounter with a burglar in the early hours of March 17th It appears that Mr. Summers was awakened from his sleep by a noise in his room, and discovered a Chinese breaking open his wardrobe. He jumped out of bed with the intention of seizing the intruder, but he was suddenly stunned by a blow from a jemmy under the chin. Before Mr. Summers could re- cover, the burglar had rushed into the bath-room and escaped by the window into the road. On subsequent investigation by the police it was discovered that the man had effected an entrance into the room by forcing the lock of the bath-room door. A deep wound was inflicted
on Mr. Sum- mers' chin by the implement which the burglar used.