SHOTS FROM SHAKESPEARE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16326, 23 August 1913, Page 11

SHOTS FROM SHAKESPEARE.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND HIS CRITICS. AMUSING INTERLUDE. [Fnou Oun Correspondent.] WELLINGTON. August 22. When are wo going to get Shakespeare? queried Opposition members laughingly during a- pause in the Prime Minister's speech this afternoon. It was quite a chance shot, fired because tho House has the quotation fever badly, and it turned out to bo well aimed, for Mr Massey picked up a typewritten sheet and commenced to quote the Bard of Avon. * What oraoker is this same that deafs our ears with this abundance of superfluous breathP” (“King John.”) Mr Russell, who appeared to enjoy the sally as much as the speaker, declared, “ I knew you would follow me. You have no policy of your own.” Mr Massey beamed over his quotation list, eyeing tho quiet-spoken member for Bay of Plenty and addressed him thus. “I oome not friends to steal away your hearts. I am no orator as Brutus is. I only speak right on.” (Loud laughter.) The Hon D. Bliddo’s turn came next. “Ho drainoth out the thread of his verbosity finer than the staple of his argument.” (“Love’s Labour Lost.”) Alessrs Wilford, Witty, Myers and Hanan wore the subjects of quotations more or less amazingly appropriate, and the Prime Minister made a good score when, to Mr Laurenson, whose manner of speech is very earnest, lie addressed a line from. “ Henry the Eighth.” “Ho has strangled his language in his tears.”