REFORM "JOKES."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 200, 24 August 1929, Page 12

REFORM "JOKES."

A MINISTERIAL SELECTION.

PARTY IN SEPTIC DISSOLUTION REFORM THE HOAX PARTY. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Keporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

Speaking against a well-sustained Reform barrage of interruption, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy provided a lively interlude in the House of Representatives when, during his Financial Debate speech, he dealt with what he called the Reform "jokes." An attempt was made to hold up the effort by raising the point of order that the Minister was reading his speech. However, he countered by explaining that when quoting figures it was most important to refresh his niemorv.

"Some members seem to rely on their memory for all their jokes," he added significantly, '"'and on their imagination for their facts!"

"We are not inspired!" interjected a Labour member, but a chorus of ''Oh!'" , discouraged further efforts of that class.

There really had been some humour in the debate, conceded Mr. Stalhvorthy. It was a first-class joke that the Eeforiu party, which could not produce a Budget which could balance were now telling the Government how to balance a Budget. After refusing for years to meet the reasonable demand, of the public for a reduction in taxation, the Reformers, out of office, were loudly demanding this, which was Reform joke number two.' Joke number three was that the Reform Opposition, which caused the deficit, was already enthusiastic over the expected surplus of one and a-half millions which they were predicting, a surplus which could only be the result of the revived optimism of the community through the change in Government That joke should penetrate even the impervious stupidity of the Reform Opposition. (Laughter.) "Have a look at this!" shouted Mr. Samuel (Thames), displaying a United party manifesto on a large sheet. "1 am exceedingly oblijred to the lion, gentleman," retorted the Minister caustically, "for putting up something hiding his face and much more pleasant to look at." {Loud laughter.) After this shot the Minister was able to make his next point with only minor interruptions. He described n Reform chorus which bewailed the possibility of the £70,000.000 loan policy sending land values up, and another chorus from the same quarter bewailing the Budget policy which would send land values down. It was. a'political see-saw, with Mr. David Jones on one side of the plank

unci the member for Wallace on the other. As a matter of fact, H was perfectly clear that the Reform party was in a state of septic dissolution. (Laughter.! Mr. Semple: And you are the antiseptic? Continuing. Mr. Stalhvorthy tilted at the member for Wallace, who, when concluding a speech, declared that when the history of 1928 came to be written the Reform party would be known as the "boax party."

Mr. Hamilton: I eorrectei myself and said '"Labour."

The Minister: I quite understand, the mistake!