FOOD DUTIES AND OTHER THINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1209, 18 August 1911, Page 6

FOOD DUTIES AND OTHER THINGS.

MR. FISHER AND THE HON. T. MACKENZIE. There wero some light passages in tho House last evening in which the actors wero the Minister for Agriculture (tho Hon. T. Mackenzie) and Mr. F. M. 13. Fisher, tho member i'c-r Wellington Cen"Jt is perfectly certain," remarked tho latter, while the Abolition of Duties on Food Bill was being discussed, "that if you take off the duty on Hour you can get it cheaper from Australia than you can get it here." , . "No!" said the Hon. T. Mackenzie in an emphatic tone. i "Then wliv not take the duty ofl ? was Mr. Fisher's quick retort. The Minister for Agriculture stated that wheat commanded the same price in Australia as it did here. "Then why don't you take the duty off?" repeated Mr. Fis'jer. . "I am not such a fool, said Mackenzie, "and neither would yoube if you represented a country district.'' Peon afterwards-the Minister and liiomh?r were at it again. Trouble arose en thi- occasion out of a remark bv Fisher tl.at Mi. Mackcuzio was variable in His politics. "And what arc-you.- rotoricd the Minister angrily. i _ . "The lion, member is variable, said Mr. Fisher in a reflective tone, "and he is ids:) verv entertaining." Tho Minister: "And what are you?" Mr, Fisher: "Twenty year* ago " A member: "What side was ho on then?" , . , , , ~ >!r. Fisher: "I think no was on both sides then. That was the time when ho walked up a hill a Conservative and came down a Liberal."