10
A
N active Opposition in Parliament is alwayn necessary to keep the Government up to the mark. It is specially needed to- day to expose the present ad- ministration na a danger to ponce and democracy, and to discredit the present Cabinet before the electorate.
This
so-called * National" Government has held office for nearly six yearn.
It has no right to speak for the It is a class nation as a whole.
Government, thinking and acting first, last, and all the time in the interests of property, wealth and privilege.
Its foreign polley is contempt- bie; and it seeks to fortify and underpin a decaying economic ays- tem.
It is the obvious duty of every democral and Bocialist to work for In overthrow. This process can be hastened by vigorous and inspired The Opposition in Parliament, present apathy of so many voters in the country makes this duty all the inbro necessary.
P
op-
ARLIAMENTARY position is an art. The
old idea that the duty
of an Opposition is to 'opposc everytlung, propose nothing, and turn out the Government" was good enough when Whigs and Tories played a game of "In and
Out"
The modern electorate ex- pects something more intelligent.
There is no reason why the Labour Party in Parliament should resist the Government on the rare occasions when it does the right thing.
THE
HONGKONG
TELEGRAPH.
ATTACK
from the
BACK
BENCHES
urges.
Lord Strabolgi
sent-day Labour Party. They were artedly disciplined band of men, ruled and drilled by leaders of immense personal ascendancy, We, in the Labour Party, are indivi- dualists in our politics and we have a great constructive programme.
The Irish Nationalists had one aim to destroy the Act of Union. Their tactics were purely obstruc- live. To-day, the rules of proce- dure have been so altered that the mere phylent holding up of Par-
Blind, unreasoning opposition plays into the hands of those who pretend that Parliamentary de- mocracy is played out; but a vigi- lant, active and, above all, aggres- sive Opposition can draw publicamentary business is difficult.
attention to the worst of the scan- dals, unearth abuses, and beat the National "Government in debate. even if it falls to defeat it in the division lobbies.
An onlooker aces more of the battle than the combatants.
But I spent thirteen years in the House of Commons, ten of them in Opposition, and I claim to know something about the art. I believe the Labour Party in this Parlia- ment has made the best of a difi- cult altuation, and that it will have even better opportunities in the pear future.
We had an even harder task in the Coalition Parliament of 1918- 1022. Our nominal total of all parties opposing the Coalition of 1918-1922 was under ninety. To- day the Opposition is. twice as
numerous.
In the Coalition Parliament the country was still suffering from war hysteria, and tho anti-bolshie- vist complex; the Government was led by Mr. Lloyd George when his popularity, prestige and personal following were tremendous.
L. O. was practically a dictator, at any rate for the first two years. when he had the overwhelming support of public opinion.
Y
ET we made headway. We definitely altered the course of national affairs in regard to foreign policy. Russia, Ireland, social legislation, And in other directions.
We luld the foundations for the great increase in the Parliament- acy Labour Party in the 1022 elec- tion, and for the Labour Govern- Dient of 1024.
The Irish Nationalists are often quoted as an example of an off- clent Opposition. It would be false to compare the situation of the Irish Nationalists with the pre-
Punishing
The mood of the country does not favour such tactica, except on specifc issues and for a limited objective.
ช
N the last Parliament eight of us held up the House of Lords all night, for the first time in the his. tory of that august assembly, on the Sedition Bill. Our object was to draw attention to an iniquitous measure, the thin edge of Fascism, We succeeded.
I have always maintained that six determined men can virtually hold
up the Parilamentary machine. That is not enough.
A great proportion of the people do not know what is being done in their name, and are unaware of the blunders committed by this Cabinet, The Opposition can ex- tort the truth.
on
Nor are set debnies always the best occasions for weakening and discrediting a bad Covernment. On these full-drens occnalons the Kreat Parlamentary Agures both sides monopolise the time, the Press, and the wireless. But in the day-to-day humdrum work oppor- tunities occur, advantages can be pressed honie, and Government weaknesses exposed.
In the House of Commons one never knows what will happen.
The only safe rule for the mem- bers of an Opposition-and this applles particularly to the back benches-1s always to be there on the watch for chances..
CX-
La Governmental polley pounded by Ministers, the Govern- ment Whips discourage interven- tion in debate by their followers. Their job is to get the business through as quickly and smoothly as possible; but the whole spirit and molive of opposition is in the hands of private members.
Children
to Leaders have
be cautious. They must not leave themselves too open to counter-attack; they have to interpret Party policy and speak for their collective followers. The private member has no much inhibitions. It doesn't matter if he makes mistakes. The man who never makes mistakes never does anything. It docs not even matter if he makes a fool of himselt, pro- vided he has the wit to learn from his blunders and the best way to learn the rules of procedure is to break them.
It is the vigorous, aggressive private members who should make the holes in the fencea which the leaders can enlarge and pass through. By that I mean that the Parliamentary occasions, and much of the initiative, must come from the back benches.
Palleles are not advanced, nor Governments overthrown, in prl- vate committees and study circles. Still loss is the cause advanced in sinoking-rooms, tea-rooms or on tho Terrace. These things can be done only on the green benches, when the House la sitting.
The private member of Parlia- ment should not be afraid of espousing unpopular causes. They will be popular soon enough it he sticks to his guns.
My friends and I were howled down in the Coalition Parliament for opposing the Treaty of Ver- satiles. Who would defend It to- day? We were howled down for opposing the Black-and-Tan polley of coercion in Ireland. Who would excuse that policy now?
W
E were threatened, abused and insulted
for resisting inter- vention in Russia. I believe oven Mr. Winston Churchill admits now that it was a mistake.
And what opportunities there are for the private membert
There is that invaluable question hour, when Ministers can be forced to disclose the real facts. Again And again I have scen policy altered for the better by continued and continuous campaigns at ques- tion-time on a particular subject.
There the twenty Supply Days, the subjects chosen by the Opposition, when the House is in Committee and members can speak on the Estimates as often as they
THURSDAY,
like, and can catch the Speakers, Dyo.
There are the adjournments- and the House adjourns every night; when there is usually n chanco to ralsc some burning topic.
There is the day to day scrap- ping. If I may use the word, when our opponents can be taken off their guard or our argumenta driven home.
Let me give an example, again gathered from my own experience.. The late Bir Edward Corson, afterwards. Lord Carson, was the most influential Die-Hard leader of his day. A man of great ability and utterly ruthless, he had the more moderate Conservatives mor- tally airaid of him.
He tried to upset the Govern- meni of the day over the Amritsar For once it massacre in India. had done the right thing, and, in so doing. I believe it saved India. for the Empire.
Bo
UT the Tories were out for blood, "An officer and a gentle- mak "who had ordered the shoot- ing was punished. And not to support the man on the spot in an outpost of Empire was the worst crime that could be committed in Dle-Hard eyes.
Carson wan leading the attack, and wlaning Tory votes with every sentence. And the Tory Party was As he in an absolute majority. spoke, the House was thrilled and Bull.
Consider the sarcumstances. Mr. Shpeaker," he thundered in the rich Irish brogue he always reverted to in times of emotion "there was ribillon in the Punjab, ribillion against the King's Gov- crnment."
for Then he paused
greater effect, and at that exact moment I called across to him, "You're a good judge of rebellion, anyhow."
The result was absoluto pande- moniwn for five minutes, a real Carson Parliamentary "scene."
was put out of his stride. All he could do was to wheel round to- wards me and shout at the top of his volce. The honourable mem- ber is beneath contempt," whercat our people created a pandemonium in their turn, The spell was broken. The Dit-Hards were just beaten in the division lobbles.
A
WELL-TIMED inter- ruption, a short, vigor- 'ous speech at the right moment by a man able to sense the Parliamentary situation: can alter Parliamentary and, therefore, national history.
There is, of course, a price to pay.
Work in opposition is hard and exacting. It entails careful pre- paration to get the facts together; hours of waiting for opportunities: long periods of weariness, when the whole place seems lifeless, the bares and drones in complete com- mand. Suddenly there is a change. Something happens. The oppor- tunity comes.
But the resolute men have to be there, ready to take advantage, ready to act, ready to move quickly and without assistance or guidance from the leaders and Whips.
In brief, the Opposition struggle must be a soldiers' battle. And the soldiers have to be on duty always, armed, ready to strike.
To-day's Thought...............
PARTY of
order atability and a party of progress or reform are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life.
A
or
-JOHN STUART MILL.
On Liberty,
A LAST BUS ADVENTURE
centred
but, at the same time, it is a truism mother caught sight of the damage when they are in a public convey had tried to board us.
the most effective course of treating
particular misdemeanour
as Cox
any
child has committed.
be mere
ance.
even courage useless
AUGUST
5, 1937.
Do You
Exaggerate?
MEN may not always tell the truth,
but for wholerale, persistent,
and unnecessary exaggeration the palm must be handed to women. Husbands suffer considerably from of their wives. the suggerations Minor faults are magnified until they become portentous.
What husband has not heard the familiar
"You've ward,
Sapped your ash all over the drawingroom The accusation is made in
carpet" Buch imply that the accused deliberately sat in each chair in turn, tapping off cigarette esh with as much careless care as if he were sowing grass seed on the lawn.
a downright munnier a to
"You kept me awake all fast night
snoring," with your
complains a wife, her face falling with suspicious euse into the lines and wrinkles ex- pressive of marital martyrdom.
A curious form of feminine ex- anneration occurs when the husband suffering s, not actually ill, but from a cold, toothache. headngine, or other of the rainor ills that affect
On mankind.
such occasions it 15 the earnest desire of inest men to be left alone: they ke
like to shun
the society of their fellows,
Wiver will not permit this. After #preliminary period during which they get angry because their inces sant questions obtain only monosylla- ble repiles, they suddenly rush to the other extreme and insist on coddling the semi-invalid. or dis- turbing him with frequent solicitous inquiries, and generally making a fuss over nothing.
Wires Magnify Ailments
This, in itself, is exaggeration, but it is mild compared with the sequel. A week or so afterwards, usually in third party, the the presence of husband learns to his amazement that he is a fractious invalid. He
person represented us the kind who moans and grouns over a pin- rick, and various well-worn falla- of cies
the fortitude concerning women are trotted out and aired.
IL
It is, of course, impossible to test exactly the stoicism of women as compare
with that of men. It is even Impossible to compare different sex. For individuals of the same
by is no meter our thing, there which pain can be measured. An- nervous other obstacle is that the
sensibility of different people varies considerably. The general view of consi doctors, dentists, and nurses is, how- ever, that men bear pain better than
women.
of women to exag-
The tendency gerate does not always express Itself in obvious ways. Fastidiousness in food is htt example of marked exaggeration. It is almost impos- sible for a husband to carve a help- int of sirloin to his wife's sulisfac- tion.
Men ent without comment the apologetic dishes put before them by their wives, but those same women, bating in public, criticise the dishes of culinary
experts and generally play about with their food until the exasperated escort feels inclined to sentence them a term in the Arelie lo cat learnt Circle until they have tallow candle with relish.
of I believe, is one Exaggeration,
of the most striking characteristics the modern woman. It arises, prob-
her ably, from more vivid
Imaging- tion combined with her incurable romanticism. It has been developed a degree that a man who is to such a in regular contact with it may soon
to doubt his own scale of values unless he is an exceptionally strong-minded individual.
come
Douglas Compton-Jamies.
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
"You all know what a danger it is If a person who is frightened of things gets the idea that the best way is to keep out of all the prob- tems of life," said Dr. Alexandra Adfer when she spoke on "The Prob- lem
in the fourth of the Child," series of lectures she is delivering on "Individual Psychology" in the Brit- ish Medical Association Hall, Drum- sheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, recent-
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13
15
PO
ACROSS
an omelai
1 A mere brace will supply the
Lord Mayor with (hyphen, 4 and 6). There can't be any doubl about this shop being well-ventilaled. When you are, you surely look singular.
10 Certain to decrease the rent. 11 He Onishes without even
სის.
13 Acid that just carapes a bent-.
14 There isn't one clue here that
isn't.
15 If you get it, you're dismissed. 17 To stray in muddled mud is
more Jolly. much 20 A musical movement. 22 Slavery will never be his fate,
we're told. 24 A great operatie composer. 20 Equidistant from extremilles. 28 Order to get out. 30 Last thing.
31 Seems to be a mistake here. 32 He gets the cash.
33
A very satisfactory transaction, but if you lost it, you wouldn't think so (three words, 1, 5. and 4).
DOWN
1 Stoking continues right through
it (two words, 4 and 4).
to admit and 2 Over a gross
amuses the kiddies,
187
7 Medilate, children!
Something you don't get under fast conditions.
12 Command.
10 Hounds give it (half weight, of
course).
18 Was it this kind of army that (as Frederick the Great sald) goes, like
the serpent, on its
belly?
10 Large tin (anagram).
21 What interest may do like a
ship's company,
23 Tear about your purpose and
get your clothes.
24 Concealed in simple attire. 26 As regards this sporting object,
winning the toss is everything. 27 A far from cheerful song.
20 Oh, run away!
Yesterday's Solution
JORGANGRINDER
"U"LB"NOEG
GONDOLA DOGRACE AL
T WEET
EEALUNE
E T BLIDE
jc OST LYI DANYE
A BHORE
IT happened on the lost bus. The protector showed definite signs of occupants were the usual kind of uneasiness. He extracted a whisky IT must be said at the outset that his mother and had stabbed into people, sitting quietly in twas, guy- bottle from his pocket and, levelling their it to his shoulder,, with the neck the general principle of corporal them with a pencil he was holding.ing attention to no one but punishment is ugly and undignified, The result can be imagined. When own friends. It is strange how self- painting towards the door of the bus, and aloof people become he "hot" several of the enemy who furious.
It was dif Without that one cannot lay down inviolable hose she became
feult work, though, since they were laws on the management of children, a second's refection, she turned to
the bus. He so numerous; Then he boarded
as soon as one had and false sentiment should not be the child and gave him a frightful
of in bitten the dust two appeared in his allowed to blind one to whatever is shatting.
was a jolly-looking person,
been place. This seemed to upset the child's definable age, and he had
1y. The enemy, Anding the main door the nerves, for he burst into tears, then, celebrating He sat down on the
Dr. Adler laslanced case which having so well guarded, attempted to enter in blind anger, and hardly conscious only remaining seat, after
recently came under her notice in After studying the effects of of what he was doing, he lunged at smiled a greeting to everyone pre- by the front one. The oullonk was
Amerien which concerned an eight- sent, the soul of gealality. Little black indeed. Only by most super- various types of punishment. I have the cat and began stabbing it.
year-oll boy who, until his baby He was eventually calmed, but did he know at that moment of the human efforts, by a steady faire of come to the conclusion that the Ideal
sister was born, was the ruler of the attitude for parents on the matter that incident has left a mark on him. catastrophic happenings which were shots, by a display of courage of the
icind which wins Emplres, did our family." His mother's brother, his of corporal punishment is virtually The proper solution to the problem about to take pince.
order the child
Unele, was suffering from a serious A few moments passed, then quite protector succeed in preventing the to consider it as outside their usual would have been to
mental disease, and when the boy menta favourite suddenly he announced, loudly, that Abyssinians from entering and an- of correction, to keep it to spot one of his own
But
nervous weapons
to show signs of started as he had spoilt his we were all in great danger; the bus nihilating us. lacked away in the store-room, so to possessions
trouble his parents got the frighten- speak, but should an exceptional mother's stockings. The important
must be hereditary. ing idea that We glanced out of the windows in face of those terrific odds. There
The boy showed every sign of occasion arise, the weapon may be thing is that he should do it himself; was being attacked by Abyssinians, such as his began to appear brought out of storage, judiciously this suggests punishment, whereas where a few people were hurrying were thousands of them, encircling
mental disorder. At nights he would used, then immediately returned to his mother were to do it, it would home in the cold night, but things us, attacking the doorways, clamber-
remark that the flowers on the wall its secluded spot.
revengefulness. Seeing were not so peaceful as they seemed. ing over the roof, peering through
were falling on him; he showed toy. deliberately ruined There were Abyssinians lurking all the windows. The most fatal aspect of corporal beloved
onger and Jealousy when other child- As we continued our way suburb- punishment is the well-known fact would bring home to him the tragedy over the place.
ren wanted to play with his sister, with cases, of being careless or violent
One lady expressed the hope that wards our plight become more and that, in the majority of
he was bashful with other boys, and A perfect fusillade vindictiveness enters into it. Few things.
wo would not be captured, and was more hopeless.
the fact of him having lost his right parents smack deliberately; most of
assured that there was no fear of of shots proceeded from the whisky
eye in an accident made him even this he would defend us, he would bottle, but one man, however well them smack on an angry impulse,
more shy and reserved, armed, cannot hope to overpower a and anyone with the slightest kriow-
In the above Incident, corporal be our protector.
swarming army. Gradually we were ledge of the sensitive and unformed
DIFFICULTY IN ARITHMETIC mind of a child will at once realise punishment was the greatest possible
As the bus proceeded on its way forced to realise that it was all up.
Shortly after the nccident he told that, when that occurs, a shadow of mistake. Such a bitter taste has 11
Our We drew up at the terminus. With
his mother that he was suffering natice, even if only a faint one, at left with the child, that, should he it appeared that the Abyssinians
the most heartfelt regret for his in-.
from "daymares." He had queer
that he would be able to once springs up between parent and ever get the opportunity to do it in were gradually surrounding us.
sceret, he will, out of natural -
thoughts, and had the feeling that he to go ahead courageously, to make to feel
himself." offspring.
she said. "He will for its being the cause of his and to hatred, so that a child who suffelency our valiant defender in- physical methods formed us that we had to give in; it
wak shouting "wait n tile" and their own plans, will have their dit handle
mode the plans and fell himself, distress, ruin another of his mother's is corrected by
"shut up," even though he was not ficulty in arithmetic." later will develop into a creature impelled was no use fighting any longer since stockings and, incidentally.
as it turned out, the us completely
It was falal to overlook plans successfully things. These "day- On by Malice is one of the ugliest qualities deny any knowledge of the neture bich makes him think of the evil cornered. So we trooped down the
saying these emotions. A punishment the Abyssinians hind
mares" he told his mother, happened made by a child, for it was some-ruler of the situation."
The case showed that hero was a which it is possible for a child to the other hand, the proper
could be looked at: during arithmetic In thing which It breeds advocated above would have been of the crime, on the other hand, steps, every mann, woman, and child
optimistically, sald Dr. Adler, for if boy who had been "dethroned" by come in contact with.
on brakes crually, revengefulness, pettiness, effective in showing even his Imma- will accustom him to reflect whether a prisoner, destined, no doubt, for
tropical
a child made one plan, he would soon his sister; who tried to pul mud-
This was
understandable," said
on his
who indeed put symptoms, ture reason why property must be things he is about to do are justified some pesilienital jealousy, and a host of other
the lecturer, "for in problem child- make something else. prisfortunate
brakes on everything he did. pleasant emotions. The germ
ren arithmetle is a stumbling block, as our predicament Instances few
It cannot be sufciently
"That is the way of everyone who malice should be as rigorously ex-
of thought-out phasised, however, that if corporal undoubtedly was, It could have been
and we can understand why that is, cluded from the home as that of the where
the were captive in
Arithmetle is a subject where you punishment is not better than cor- punishment is resorted to, it should worse. We
In most virulent disense.
have to be a little bit independent chastisement arouses poral,
If the child is to grow up be proportionate, and, still more im- hands of the Abyssinians; but as the Physical
your thinking. You have to make animal passions in children. I into a creature with social sense, be portant, ahould be carried out calm-conductor remarked, with a twinkle any suggestion of in his eye, "It might have been pink
your own plans, which you have no recently witnessed a most distressing must be trained to use his logic and ly and without
elephants."
need, to do in reading or writing, incident. A child had picked up a thoughts. Physical punishment acts ill-wil
FL. C.
Edward Slables.
Children who have not been trained pair of silk stockings belonging to on the emotions; it appeals to fear
Childhood Terrors
Instability of Character
un- lure
of treated with respect.
There are
very some form
or not.
•
em-
Poly
3 The aptarist is in it. presum-
ably (hyphen, 3 and 4).
4 Are round about 100 in the
measure?
5 This trader might possibly have
been a rallway hand once. 6 Strange n cart could be this
weight!
"DETHRONED BY SISTER"
S A NIGHT
RATES IN OF CASES ETC BTRAE REENACT ATTACKS ORBETONO" T
STEEPLECHASE
in question eventually gets into thinking trouble," con- The boy learned to conquer his fears so far cluded Dr. Adler. "This boy could as arithmetic was concerned, and not stand the idea of being defeated Anally, Dr. Adtor made him remark and so he thought the best way of that all his troubles would end on solving-his problem was to keep out his next birthday, "I wanted him of everything."
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