THE ADDRESS-INREPLY-

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 18 September 1935, Page 16

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY-

DEBATE CONCLUDED IN THE HOUSE

SPEECHES CUT SHORT BY ARRANGEMENT

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 17. "; Ths address-in-reply debate was concluded in the House of Representatives" to-day, an arrangement between the parties cutting the speeches short in view of the presentation of the budget this evening. The debate was spread over nine sitting days, and 42 members took part in the discussion/ . '

The , mover of the original motion, "that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the GovernorGeneral" (the Hon. A. D. McLeod, C., Wairarapa), replied to the debate, referring to some of the delusions and disadvantages of public life. "No mail who comes young into public life." said Mr McLeod, "escapes the day dream that some day he may become Prime Minister of the country. I dreamed those day dreams, but they soon passed away because the delusions of public life very soon wipe anything of that kind out of a man's thoughts. I am very glad, indeed, that opportunity prevented me from ever reaching the Prime Ministership of this country. I am glad because I have escaped the lying • tongue of the slanderer. But neither I nor my family could have escaped it had I been Prime Minister: The older one becomes the more one realises that a good name is better than- greatness. He is a fortunate man who comes through a period of public life and is not traduced and very unfairly treated in many ways."' '