"SMOOGING!".

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3340, 8 September 1917, Page 2

"SMOOGING!".

The member for Wellington South (Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh) was in a particularly caustic mood in the Hoiise when speaking ou the Finance Bill, and favoured all and sundry with showers of criticism and sarcasm. He had the gratification of seeing a Minister and then the Prime Minister rise lo reply to the criticism he had made. Mr. Hindmarsh was roused in the first place by the congratulatory references by Mr. H. G. Ell to the Finance Bill. "I suppose," he said. "1 Ought to commence my speech by smooging to the Government. Then I could go on to criticise them. That's what I would do if I had an eye on the Cabinet vacancy. (Laughter.) I think that vacancy should be filled. It would be a positive relief to the member for Christchurch South if the vacancy was filled. Then we would have a little of his former energy and criticism —that is, if he didn't get it." (Laughter.) "There is not much smooging about mv speech," interjected Mr. Ell. Mr. Hindmarsh: "I think it was a direct bid. We ought to be saved these humiliating appeals for a seat in the Cabinet by having it filled up at once." (Laughter.)