MR. MASSEY'S MEN IN AND OUT OF ACTION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 8, 9 July 1912, Page 3

MR. MASSEY'S MEN IN AND OUT OF ACTION

VARIOUS TYPES. (By "Memor.") Recently the average Government politician was a "dangerous demagogue" in the opinion of the average Oppositionist, as given to that' marvellous mass termed "the public." and in the view of the average Ministerialist Mr. Massey's men were cave-dwellers, hoary Tories, "bearded with eld," like the sylvan antiquities of Longfellow's forest primeval. They were political Crustacea, antediluvian, fossilised, in mortal fear of change. Yet some of the youngest and most alert men in the House are on Mr. Massey's side. The last election added 4 few of bright presence, well-razored daily. This article is not concerned with recruits of 1911, but with a few of the seniors whose names are being used by Cabinet-makers. DOUR BRUCE. Mr. Massey's senior lieutenant, Mr. James Allen (Bruce), is seldom frivolous in the House. Levity^ is not his metier. He is not a humourist and does not pretend to be one. His heavy black brows, depressed at the nossbridge like the Hon. T. Mackenzie's, and a rnoustache,to match, give him a sr.turnine aspect at times, coldly cynical, and suspicious. He has the sombre pensive mood so melodiously described by Milton in "II Penseroso" — "Hence vain deluding joys" — but he has smiled, merrily, and laughed, too, in the House, and perhaps there are some figure-mongers who can give the exact number of occasions. This chronicler principally remembers one last year, when Bruce's financial critic was carving up the Budget. He was properly grim during this surgical work, and was assuring the House that it was merely a matter of grave duty to the country. "You're gloating over it," interjected a Ministerialist. Seriousness fled from the face of Bruce. He looked at his hands, which (to the mind's eye) were dripping with the blood of the Budget, and laughter, . ill-repressed, shook him. "I am," he ."aid, and he was happy. He has rather a querulous tone, and he shakes his head sententiously. H© likes sober, serious work, and will go to any pains to work up a case, COURTEOUS WAKATIPU. Mr. W. Fraser (Wakatipu), a veteran of the Opposition, is one of the most courteous mea in Parliament. He is a kind of Sir Roger de Coverley, of gentle manners, seldom personal, but he can turn on an opponent when 'provoked. He does not lose »his temper at such a time; nothing vulgar eyer slips into his vocabulary. He has some clean-cut irony or sarcasm, always in decent English, for the provoker. He is quick to detect humbug, equivocation, prevarication, which he much dislikes. Mr. F. W. Laiifr (Manukau) is a similar type, but he w not so interesting a dissecter as his rolleague of Wakatipu. THE TOWER OF TAURANGJu For some years Mr. W. H., Herries (Tauramga) has been described as "the brain of the Opposition." This is not fair to the Opposition nor to Mr. Herries. He is undeniably an able man, when he is in the mood for work, but in the past year or two he has not bestirred himself remarkably in politics. He has occasionally played Association football with a. Bill, but these displays of energy have not been frequent. His laugh has been a palpable asset to the Opposition. He has a keen sense of humour, and when a speaker is unconsciously funny Mr. Herries is one of the first to perceive the comicality, and he laughs heartily— a ringing peal, good to hear. Tkis merriment does disconcert an orator. He is smart at repartee, a happy banterer and railer. It is an unfortunate man who encounters Tauranga when he is out. for amusement— and slaughter, done with a fine Toledo blade. But he saves up most of him--self; he has had the brains on fixed deposit mostly, but he may be disposed now to place them at a. higher rate of interest for his party. - WELLINGTON NORTH'S SOMBRENESS. Mr. Herdman (Wellington North) is a better speaker on the public platform than on the floor of the House. The variety of faces in a large audience fieems to inspire him and galvanise him. He is a man of power when he is roused, and his engine* can produce some sparkling phrases. He has an incisive pitiless wit, the caustic jest delivered with an affectation of solemnity which helps in the merry-making. In the House h« often appears to be unutterably bored (with reason). He has a habit of hold- j ing a hand across the lower part of his I face as if stilling an infinity of yawning. His principal duels since he xe-entered the House ha 1909 have been with Sir Joseph Ward. ELLESMERE'S GENTLENESS. ' Mr. R. H. Rhodes (Ellesmere) is not a militant politician. His forte is not oratory, and he has no delight in invective, innuendo, insinuation, slandiar, and such like. It is not easy to imagine him as a Minister of the Crown facing insistent' half-threatful and wholly fretful deputationists. He is an amiable man who seems eager to be at peace with all the world. He is Senior Whip, but one cannot regard him as a relent-, less stockman. He is a negative rather than a positive type of politician, if it is fair to term htm a politician. He probably prefers to be known as "member for the district.'' DARK ARHBURTON. Mr. W. Nosworthy (Ashburton) was, apparently, taught) in early youth that it was rude to talk quickly, or excitedly, and he has well- remembered the lesson. He speaks in measured accents, slowly, mournfully, lugubriously- Sometimes his words sound like a voice in a vault, in a- dirge for some dear one. It may be a comment about a post office or a stopping-place for a tram, but it sounds like a lamentation for the ruination of the Canterbury Plains. But let not Ashburton be judged harshly for the sorrowful cadence of his intonation. He is not a dismal man at heart, and his brain works faster than his tongue. He is reputed to be a useful man at "privy councils" of the party. RELENTLESS STRATFORD. Heavy in physique (but far from corpulent) and gloomy in manner, ■ Stratford's member, Mr. J. B. Hine, is a j man much misjudged outside his own party. He once humorously boasted that he was a "child slave of the dairy, ' and he has been commonly regarded by hie opponents as bovine, but he is actually one of the strong men of his party. He its a shrewd thinker, but his mind is as a deep well which his tongue indifferently pumps. Ho has a halting, staccato utterance which does not thrill the Preßß Gallery, but it must be said for him that if his manner ie not electrical his matter is usually worth while. He played Mountain to the "Government's Mahomet in the "Hine Charges" drama two years ago, and the Mountain did not budge — till it suited the Mountain. SCHOLARLY DUNEDIN NORTH. Tt is possible that Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North) has deliberately offended an opponent, but this writer does not believe so. His heart does not seem to be in party politics ; rather is it in the highlands, with the trees and birds, or with the lobsters of tho Forts*

bello hatchery. He likes to get right away from the parish pump, and wrap himself around some subject which he knows well (and he knows many). He is a little conscious of his knowledge perhaps— well, perhaps— but certainly not conceited. He would not be a tighting type of Minister, and the times demand fighters. THE TWO NEWMANS. The two Newmans (Wellington Eafrt and Rangitikei) are extremely unlike in appearance and similarly unlike in manner. Dr. Newman is light and dapper in his style and voicing, and a trenchant satirist withaj when he wishes to be. Mr. E. Newman has a grave deportment, with no special arts of voicing, but he does not lack a dry Scotch humour, which he expresses in droll, even tones. Generally, the Opposition is not rich in vivid speakers — but perhaps the House has as much cause to be thankful as regretful for that fact.