10
A
N active Opposition in Parliament is always necessary to keep the Government up to the mark. It is specially needed to- day to expose the present ad- ministration as a danger to -peace and democracy, and to discredit the present Cabinet before the electorate.
so-called
"National" Thia Government has held office for nearly alx years.
It has no right to speak for the nation as a whole. It is a class Government, thinking and acting Brat, last, and all the time in the interests at property, wealth and privilege.
Its foreign policy is contempt- Ible; and I seeks to fortify and underpin a decaying economic sys-
Lem.
It is the obvious duty of every democral and Socialist la work for its overthrow. This process can be hastened by vigorous and inspired The Opposition in Parlament. present apathy of so many votern in the country makes this duty all the more necessary,
P
ARLIAMENTARY op- position is an art. The
old idea that the duty
WAS
of in Opposition is to "oppose everything, propose nothing, and turn out the Government" good enough when Whigs and Torles 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.
Blind, unreasoning opposition plays into the hands of those who pretend that Parilamentary de- mocracy is played out; but a vigi- lant, active and, above all, aggres- sive Opposition can draw public 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 lobbles.
An onlooker sees more of the battle than the combatants.
But I spent thirteen years in the Ilouse of Commons, teri 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 beat of a dim- cult situation, and that it will have even better opportunities in the near future.
We had an even harder task in the Coalition Parliament of 1018- 1022. Our nominal' total of all partics opposing the Coalition of 1018-1922 was under ninety. To- day the Opposition is twice an numerous.
In the Coalition Parliament the country was still suffering from war hysteria, and the anti-bolshe- vist complex; the Government was led by Mr. Lloyd George when his popularity, prestige and personal following were tremendous.
L. G. 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 polloy, Russin, Ireland, social. legislation, and in other directions.
Wo laid the foundations for the great increase in the Parliament- Ary Labour Party in the 1922 elec- tion, and for the Labour Govern- ment of 1924.
The Irish Nationalists are often quoted as an example of an eff- clent Opposition. It would be false to compare the situation of the. Irish Nationalists with the pre-
THE
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
ATTACK
from the
BACK
BENCHES
urges.
Lord Strabolgi
sent-day Labour Party. They were a rigidly disciplined band of men, ruled and drilled by leaders of immense personal ascendancy. We, in the Labour Party, are indlyl- dualists in our politics and we have a great constructive programme.
The Irish Nationalists had one alm to destroy the Act of Union. Their tactles were purely obstruc-. Live. To-day, the rules of proce- dure have been so altered that the mere physical holding up of Par- Hamentary business is difficult. The mood of the country does not favour such tactics, except on specific issues and for a limited objective,
N the last Parliament eight of us held up the All House of Lords
night, for the first time in the his- tory of that august assembly, on the Bedition 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 Parliamentary 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.
Nor are set debates always the best occasions for weakening and discrediting a bad Government. On these full-dress occasions the great Parliamentary figures on 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 home, 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 applies particularly to the back benches-is always to be there on the watch for chances.
Governmental policy 13 CX- pounded by Ministers, the Govern- ment Whips discourage interven- tion in debate by their followers. Their Job Ja to get the business through as quickly and smoothly as but the whole spirit possible; and motive of opposition is in the hands of private members.
Punishing Children
effecta
and had stabbed
THURSDAY,
Uko, and can catch the Speaker's 030.
There are the adjournments-- and the founo adjourns'. every night; when there is usually a chance to raise some burning topic.
There is the day to daỷ scrap- ping, if I may use the word, when our opponenta can be taken off their guard or our arguments driven home.
Let me give an example, again gathered from my own experience.
The late Bir Edward Carson. afterwards Lord Carson, was the most influential Die-Hard leader of his day. A man of great ebulty and utterly ruthless, he had the more moderate Conservatives mor- tally afraid of him.
He tried to upset the Govern- ment of the day over the Amritsar massacre in Indin. For once it had done the right thing, and, in so dolog. I believe it saved India for the Empire..
Bo
UT the Tories were out for blood, "An officer and a gentle- man" who had ordered the shoot- ing was punished. And not to an support the man he spot outpost of Empire was the worst crime that could be committed in Dle-Hard eyes.
Carson was leading the attack. and winning Tory votes with every sentence. And the Tory Party was As he in an absolute majority. cautious.
spoke, the House was thrilled and still.
Leaders have 10 be 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 such. Inhibitions. It doesn't matter if he makes mistakes. The man who never makes mistakes never does anything. It does not even matter If he makes a fool of himself, pro- vided he has the wit to learn from hals 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 fences 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.
Policies are not advanced, nor Governments overthrown, in, prl- vate committees and study circles. Still less is the cause advanced in smoking-rooms, tea-rooms or on the Terrace. These things can be done only on the green benches, when the House is sitting.
The private member of Parlia- ment should not be afraid of espousing unpopular causes. They will be popular soon enough if he sticks to his guns.
My friends and I were howled down in the Coalition Parliament for opposing the Treaty of Ver- sailles, Who would defend it to- day? We were howled down for opposing the Black-and-Tan policy 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 even Mr. Winston Churchill admits now that it was a mistake.
And what opportunities there are for the private member!
There is that invaluable question hour, when Ministers can be forced Again to disclose the real facts. and again have seen polley altered for the better by continued and continuous campaigns at ques- tlon-time on a particular subject.
There are the twenty Bupply Days, the subjects chosen by the Opposition, when the House is in Committee and members can speak on the Estimates as often as they
"Consider the sarcumstances, Mr. Shpeaker." he thundered in the rich Irish brogue he always reverted to in times of emotion "there was ribillion in the Punjab, ribillion against the King's Gov- crnment."
Then he paused for greater effect, and at that exact moment I called across to him, "You're a good judge of rebellion, anyhow."
The result was absolute pande- monlum for five minutes, a real Carson Parliamentary scene."
was put out of his stride. Alt he could do was to wheel round to- wards me and shout at the top of his voice, "The honourable mem- ber Is beneath contempt," wherea: our people created a pandemonium in their turn Tho spell was broken. The Did-Hards wero just beaten in the diviston lobbies.
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 It entails careful pre- exacting. paration to get the facts together; hours of waiting for opportunities; long periods of weariness, when the whole place seems lifeless, the bores and drones in complete com- mand, Suddenly there is a change. Something happens. The oppor- tunity comes.
But the resolute men have to bo there, ready to take advantage. ready
move to act, ready to quickly and without assistance or guldance from the leaders and Whips.
In brief, the Opposition struggle And must be a soldiers' battle. the soldiers have to be on duty always, armed, ready to strike,
A
Or
To-day's Thought--------
PARTY of order stability and a party of progress or reform are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life.
JOHN STUART MILL,
On Liberty.
A LAST BUS ADVENTURE
unce.
The protector showed definite signs of TT happened on the last bus.
Occupants were the usual kind of uneasiness. He extracted a whisky into people, sitting quietly in twos, pay- bolile from his pocket and, levelling I must be said at the outset that his mother
to no one but their it to his shoulder, with the neck the general principle of corporal them with a penell he was holding. Ing attention
bits, pubishment is ugly and undignified. The result can be Imagined. When own friends. It is strange how self- pointing towards the door of the
the damaged centred and aloof people become he "shot" several of the enemy who but, at the same time, it is a truism mother caught sight
It was dif- that one cannot lay down inviolable hose she became furious. Without when they are in a public convey had tried to board us.
ficult work, though, since they were Jaws on the management of children, a second's reflection, she turned
as soon as one had the bus. He so numerous; Then he boarded and false sentiment should not be the child and gave him a frightful
was a jolly-looking person, of in- bitten the dust two appeared in his allowed to blind one to whatever is shaiding.
This seemed to upset the child's definable age, and he had been place. the most effective course of treating
He sat down on the The enemy, finding the main door milsdemeanour the nerves, for he burst into tears, then, "celebrating." any particular child has committed.
In blind anger, and hardly conscious only remaining seat, after having so well guarded, attempted to enter of of what he was doing, he lunged at smiled a greeting to everyone pre- by the front one. The outlook was studying the After
gent, the soul of geniality. Little black indeed. Only by most super- various types of punishment. I have the cat and began stabbing it.
He was eventually calmed, but did he know at that moment of the human efforts, by a steady fire of come to the conclusion that the ideal attitude for parents on the matter that incident has left a maric on him. catastrophic happenings which were shots, by a display of courage of the kind which wins Empires, did our about to
t to take place. of corporal punishment is virtually The proper solution to the problem abou
succeed in preventing the A few moments passed, then quite proteins from entering and an- to consider it as outside their usuni would have been to order the child
favourite suddenly he announced, loudly, that to keep it to spoll one of his own of correction, weapons
speilt
we were all in great danger; the bus nihilating us. But oven courage Jocked away in the store-room, so to possessions as he bad
attacked by Abyssinians, such as his began to appear useless should that he
do It himself; We ocension arise, the weapon may be thing is brought out of storage, judiciously this suggests punishment, whereas it where a few people were hurrying were thousands of them, encircling 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- its secluded spot.
be mere revengefulness. Seeing were not so peaceful as they seemed, ing over the roof, peering through
toy deliberately ruinedThere were Abyssintonis lurking all the windows. The most fatal aspect of corporal beloved.
As we continued our way suburb. punishment is the well-known fact would bring home to him the tragedy over the place.
careless or violent with that,
In
the
majority of cases, of being
Fow things. vindictiveness enters into it. parents smack deliberately; most of them smack on an angry impulse, Instability of Character and anyone with the slightest know In the above incident, corporal ledge of the sensitive and unformed punishment was the greatest possible child will at once realise mistake. Such a bitter taste has it
the most heartfelt regret for his in- malice, even if only a faint one, at once springs up between parent and over get the opportunity to do it in were gradually surrounding us. Our secret, he will, out of natural ill- offspring.
will for its being the cause of his and to hatred, so that a child who suficiency our vallant defender in- distress, ruin
another of his mother's is corrected by physical methods formed us that we had to give in; it Childhood Terrors
stockings and, incidentally. later will develop into a creature impelled was no use fighting any longer since us completely emotions. A punishment the Abyssinians had Malice is one of the ugliest qualities deny any knowledge of the net. On by his
course which makes him think of the evil cornered. So we trooped down the which it is possible for a child to the other hand, the proper
It breeds advocated above would have been of the crime, on the other hand, steps, every man, woman, and child come in contact with.
tropical pestilential cruelly,
ravengefulness, pelliness, effective in showing even his imma will necustom him to reflect whether a prisoner, destined, no doubt, for
un ture reason why property must be things he is about to do are justised some
prison. Jealousy, and a host of other
of treated with respect.
or not,
as our predicament Unfortunate be sufficiently pleasant emotions. The germ
There are very Iew Instances It cannot mallee should be as rigorously ex-
of thought-out phasised, however, that if corporal undoubtedly was, it could have been some form cluded from the home as that of the where
punishment is not better than cor- punishment is resorted to, it should worse. We were captive in the most virulent disease.
chastisement arouses poral. If the child is to grow up be proportionate, and, sill more im-hands of the Abyssinians; but as the Physical
in chlidren. I into a creature with social sense, he portant, should be carried out calm-iconductor remarked, with a twinkle antmal
pasalons
any suggestion of in his eye, "It might have been pink
elephants," recently witnessed a most distressing must be trained to use his logic and ly and without Incident. A child had picked up a thoughts. Physical punishment acts il-will. pair of silk stockings belonging to on the emotions; it appeals to tear
speak, but should an exceptional mother's stockings The important was beinsed out of the windows to in ther of those terrifle odds, There
mind of
One lady expressed the hope that wards our plight became more and we would not bo captured, and was more hopeless. A perfect fusillade assured that there was no fear of of shots proceeded from the whisky 1KIshe would defend us, he would bottle, but one man, however well armed, cannot hope to overpower a be our protector.
sworming army. Gradually we were forced to realise that it was all up.
As the bus proceeded on its way
that, when that occurs, a shadow of left, with the child, that, should he It appeared that the Abyssinians We drow up at the terminus. With
emi
8. L.
mud-
Edward Stables.
AUGUST 5, 1937.
Do You
Exaggerate?
MEN may not always tell the truth, and unnecessary exaggeration the palm must be handed to women. Husbands suffer considerably from wives. the exaggerations of their Minor faults are magnified until they become portentous.
for wholesale, persistent,
manner
as to
What husband has not heard the
'You've familier
dropped worde your
ash all over the drawingroom corpet"? The accusation is made in Fuch a downright imply that the accused deliberately sat in each chair in turn, tapping off elgarette ash with as much careless care as if he were sowing grass seed on the lawn.
"You kept me awake all last night with your
enoring," complains a wife, her face falling with suspicious ease Into the lines and wrinkles ex- pressive of marital martyrdom.
A curious form of feminine ex- oggeration occurs when the husband is, not actually ill, but suffering from a cold, toothache, headache, or other of the minor is that affect Buch occasions it 15 mankind. On the earnest desire of most men to be left alone; they like to shun the society of their fellows.
Wives will not permit this.
After
o preliminary period during which they angry because their inces
Ret sant questions obtain only monosylin bie replies, they suddenly rush to extreme and insist on
the other
司空航國中
AIR-MAIL
**
PASSENGER SERVICE
CHINA NATIONAL AVIATION CORP.
GENERAL TRAFFIC AGENTS FOR PAN-
AMERICAN airways
Hongkong Office: King's Bldg., 2nd Floor Tel: 33132, 33151.
Kowloon Office:
3, Peninsula Hotel Arcade
Tel: 50605.
TRAVEL A.-O.
LINE
TO AUSTRALIA, Calling at Manila, Thursday Is., CAIRNS Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
(Oil Burnors);
cuddling the semi-invalid, or dis- | British Steamers: CHANGTE-TAIPING
turbing him with frequent solicitous inquiries, and generally making a fuss over nothing.
Wives Magnify Ailments
cles
FASTEST & MOST UP-TO-DATE STEAMERS IN THE SERVICE
OPEN AIR SWIMMING POOL,
ELECTRIC LAUNDRY, BARBER SHOP, SURGEON
AND STEWARDESS CARRIED. Enjoy Your Leave in Australia and New Zealand. Hong Kong to Sydney-19 Days.
FIRST CLASS FARE TO SYDNEY, £76 RETURN
"
LONDON (via Australia) from £127.15. (Australian Newspapers on file).
Due H'Kong Leaves H'Kong Leaves Manila Due Sydney
13 Aug. 5 Aug.
of i
STEAMER
CHANGTE TAIPING CHANGTE TAIPING
10 ANR.
1 Sopt.
7 Sept.
14 'Sept.
17 Sept
3 Oct.
8 Oct.
10 Oct.
18 Oct.
3 Nov.
9 Nov. 16 Nov.
19 Nov.
4 Dec.
LIMITED.
This, in itself, is exaggeration, but it is mild compared with the sequel. A week or so afterwards, usually in the presence of a third party, the husband learns to his amazement nus that he is a fractious invalid. He is person as the kind of represented who moans and groans over a pin- prick, and various well-worn folla-
fortitude concerning the women are trotted out and aired.
It is, of course, impossible to test of women as exactly the stoicism
with that of men. It is! compared even impossible to compare different Individuals of the same sex. For Is no meter by thing, there which pain can be measured, An- other obstacle is that the nervous of different people varles
one
sens. The general view of
doctors, dentists, and nurses is, how- ever, that men bear pain better than
women.
The tendency of women to exag- gerate does not always express itself in obvious ways. Fastidiousness in food is [M example of marked cxaggeration. It is almost impos- sible for a husband to carve a help- Ing of sirloin to his wife's satisfac- tion.
Men eat without comment the apologetic dishes put before them by their wives, but those same women, bating in public, criticise the dishes of culinary
generally experts and play about with their food until the exasperated escort feels inclined to sentence them to a term in the Arctic Circle until they have learnt to eat tallow candle with relish,
Exaggeration, I believe,
one of the most striking characteristics of the modern woman. It arises, prob- ably, her more vivid imagina- tion co with her incurable romanticism, It has been developed to such a degree that a man who is soon mny' in regular contact with it come
to doubt his own scale of values unless he is an exceptionally strong-minded individual.
let's
Douglas Compton-James.
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- Alexandra of life," said Dr. Adler when she spoke on "The Prob- lem Child," in the fourth of the series of lectures she la delivering on "Individual Psychology" in the Brit- ish Medical Association Hall, Drum- slough Gardens, Edinburgh, recent-
¡y.
AUSTRALIAN-ORIENTAL LINE,
Sallings subject to alterailon without notice.
for Freight or Passage, apply to:-
Butterfield & Swire Agents-Hong Kong-China-japan
OUR BRITISH CROSSWORDS
16
ACROSS
1 A more brace will supply the GO omcial Lord Mayor with (hyphen, 4 and 6).
8 There can't be any doubt about this shop being well-ventilated. 9 When you are, you surely look
singular,
10 Certain to decrease the rent.
Anishes without 11 He
bob,
even a
13 Acid that just escapes a bent-
ing 14 There isn't one clue here that
Isn't.
15 if you get it, you're dlsinlased, 17 To stray in muddled mud is
much more dolly.
20 A musical movement.
22 Slavery will never be his fate,
we're told.
Dr. Adler instanced a case which
24 A
A great operatic composer. recently came under her notice in
which concerned an eight- 26 Equidistant from extremities. -old boy who, until his baby 28 Order to get out. sister was born, was the ruler of the 30 Last thing. family." His mother's brother, his 31 Seems to be a mistake here. uncle, was suffering from a serious 32 He gets the cash. menini
disease, and when the boy 33 A very satisfactory transaction, storted
nervous to show signs of
but if you lost it, you wouldn't think so (three words, 1, 0, trouble his parents got the frighten-
and 4). ing Ide
Idea that it must be hereditary. The
boy sho
showed every sign of mental disorder. At nights he would remark that the flowers on the wall were falling on ilm: he showed anger and jealousy when other child- ren wanted to play with his sister, he was bashful with other boys, and the fact of him having lost his right eye in an accident made him even mare shy and reserved.
DOWN
1 Sloiding continues right through
it (two words, 4 and 4). 2 Over a gross to admilt and
amuses the kiddies.
3 The apiarist 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 railway hand once. ◊ Strange a cart could be this
weight
26
7 Meditate, children!
8 Something you don't get under
fast conditions.
12 Command.
18 Hounds give it (half weight, of
course).
10 Was it this kind of army that (as Frederick the Great sald)
tha serpent, goen, like
on ta
belly?
10 Large tn (anagram):
21 What interest may do like a
ship's company.
23 Tear about your purpose and
gpt your clothes,
24 Concealed in simple attire. 25 As regards this sporting object,
winning the toss is everything. 27 A far from cheerful song. 20 Oh, run away!
Yesterday's Solution
ORGANGRINDER [U] "L"B" [NOE GʻONDOLA DOGRAO ATL F VIE TWEET. E E ALONE
BLIDE
10 OBTLY
A BHORE
DAMBE
I
STAT NIGHT
R ́EENACT ARTAUK. SEBE U C
BTEEPLECHASE
that he would be able to the Bald. "He made the plans and felt himself,
DIFFICULTY IN ARITHMETIC Shortly after the accident he told suffering his mother that he was from "daymares." He had queer thoughts, and had the feeling that he to go ahead courageously, to make to feel
and their own plans, will have their dif-handle himself," Was shouting "walt a little" "shut up." even though he was not ficulty in arithmetic."
It was fatal to overlook plans successfully as it turned out, the anying these things. These "day-
ruler of the situation." mares" he told his motlier, happened made by a child, for it was some-ruler
The case showed that here was a could be looked at optimistically, sold Dr. Adier, for if boy who had been "dethroned" by understandable," salda chill made one plan, he would soon his sister; who tried to put on brakes on his symptoms, who indeed put make something else.
brakes on everyiling he did. "DETHRONED BY SISTER"
"That is the way of everyone who The boy In question eventually gets into thinking trouble," learned to conquer his fears so far cluded Dr. Adler. "This boy could arithmetic was concerned, and not stand the idea of being defanted as finally, Dr. Adler made him remark and so he thought the best way of that all his troubles would end on naiving his problem was to keep out his next birthday, "I wanted him of everything.
CT during arithmetic in thing which
Wis
the lecturer, "for in problem child ren arithmetle is a stumbling block, and we can understand why that is. Arithmetic is a subject where you have to be a little bit independent in your thinking. You have to make your own plans, which you have no I need, to do in reading or writing. Children who have not been trained
com.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.