RUTHERFOHD VERSUS TAYLOR

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11955, 6 August 1904, Page 9

RUTHERFOHD VERSUS TAYLOR

AS EXOILVNGE OP COMPLIMENTS.

(SPICIiI. TO "THI PHESS.") WELLINGTON*, August S. Taylor, in his Budget tpetch tonight,' devoted a little of his time to the member for Hurunui. Mr Rutherford, he eaid, luul come into the Uou- ; e ae an out and out Libtral, but to his liuger-tipe be wae a Tory, and should b*> on the Opposition side of the House. He had come in under the shadow of the Premier. When ho wae sekctcd as a Government candidate he was not a-sked what hie opinions w*ro regarding uny advanced legislation ; all that was ua-kx'd oi him wae would he support the Premier, but as a matter of fact he wan unhappy 'on thai side of the House, and when any radical legislation came up for consideration he wae as unhappy us a fish out of water. The day had gone by when tie Liberal party in that House Mood for anything on an economic question.

When Mr Taylor finished his speech Mr Rutherford rose to epeak to the amendment. Hj said Mr Taylor lvad accused him of being a Tory. Iα reply he might ask Mr Taylor where he was when he was first elected. Was he not on the Government side of the House? Where was he now? Was be Dot to oil intents and purposes worse than being a straight-out Oppositionist? He (Mr Kutherford) eaid plninly that, in all his election addresses, he had favoured the Government labour legislation, and, generally shaking, all the Government legislation. Be asked had he ever voted against the Government on questions of tliie nature? He had not. (Hear, henr.) Th« hon. gentleman had been carried away by his own exuberance of language. Hβ had been intoxicated with his own exuberance. So far an his (Rutherford's) electorate was concerned, it did not matter what his politics were, he would be returned all the same. Conld the hon. member for Christchurch eay as muc"h? Hβ posed as a Liberal? Had he ever done a generous action in his life? If so he,bad taken very good care to keep it covered ug. In regard to himself, he might relate * little episode that had occurred at a Clieviot County Council dinner. One of those present was a Socialist. He (Mr Rutherford) had mentioned that he had often to feed swaggers. What, said the Socialist,. would you feed swaggers? He (Mr Rutherford) had replied that lie had fed swaggers ever since lie had owned property. He had never turned a man away in his life. He belkyed in being liberal with his own property, not with other people's, a feature characteristic of so many of the Lib?rals of the present day. (Laughter.) Hie hon. gentleman thought he had a. knowledge of economic?, but in this matter lie was a perfect baby. (Laughter.) He talked ftlout increasing the rates in Christchurch. What eke could he expect when labour had increased in value and the cost of building had been increased also? What else also could they expect when so-called Liberals purchased land in the suburbs of Christchurcii at £17 en acre, and eold it -up to £200 on acre? That being so oolild they wonder that house rents went up?