Editorial: Seen and not heard

OPINION: Labour MP Charles Chauvel's complaints about the noise of children on an Air New Zealand flight have highlighted a growing intolerance in society.

The MP has been attacked for telling three children to shut up on a short flight between Auckland and Wellington.

Unfortunately for Mr Chauvel, he picked on the wrong family. The man, who has three children aged four, three and two years respectively went public with his complaints on a right wing internet site.

The exact details of the incident vary between Mr Chauvel and the blogger – as these things often do – but Mr Chauvel did admit he had said to his partner that he wished the kids would "shut up". He said the kids were badly behaved and that most of the people on the aircraft agreed with him. He clearly felt that the man's parenting skills were short of the mark, saying it would have "been nice if the parents had kept the kids better amused".

The blogger said Mr Chauvel told the children to shut up three times on the one-hour flight, but the MP denies this.

Whether the children were too loud or not is a moot point. What Mr Chauvel is guilty of, as are a growing number of New Zealanders, is intolerance. In countless other cultures children are cherished and celebrated. In New Zealand many, like Mr Chauvel, still believe in the Victorian idea children should be seen and not heard.

Mr Chauvel needs to understand a few facts. The first is that children have as much right as he has to be on an aircraft, and to fly first class, business class or whatever class they want as long as their parents have paid for them.

Mr Chauvel is 40 so his memories of childhood have probably faded. But he may recall that flying on an aircraft is likely to be exciting and, being confined to a seat when you are small – even if it is for just one hour – can be frustrating. Pre-school children are probably the most difficult to keep amused on a flight since they are too young to read and they are insatiably curious. They are also good at knowing that the fastest way to get attention is to make noise.

Mr Chauvel should also be aware that, in 25 years, when he is looking to retire on his large state pension, it will be children like the annoying trio in front who will be supporting him with their taxes.

Families are the future of this country. Parents of young children make big sacrifices to bring them into the world – and that is when the hard work starts. It would be nice if, when their kids are trying their patience, parents got sympathetic looks instead of patronising stares or worse – parenting advice from an MP with no children. Telling children to shut up is not helpful. All it has taught the children is that there are very grumpy adults out there who are to be avoided at all costs. And some of them are MPs.

- © Fairfax NZ News