MIXED METAPHORS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 255, 25 September 1935, Page 7

MIXED METAPHORS.

HUMOUR IN THE HOUSE.

DURING BUDGET DEBATE,

(By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 25. An impassioned peroration to the Budget debate was made by Mr C. H. Clinkard, member for Rotorua, in defence of the Government from criticism. The member w’orked himself into a state of great excitement and, mixing his metaphors caused considerable amusement and laughter from both the Government and Opposition •Mr Clinkard drew attention to the similarity of the Labour Party asking the farmers to adopt guaranteed prices with that of the spider asking the fly to walk into his parlour. . “The Labour Party says, ‘Walk into my pretty parlour, fly,’ but I don’t think the tittle flies will walk into the parlour,” said Mr Clinkard. “What is the bait of guaranteed prices? It is very effective as long as the flies are sufficiently gullible to accept it as bait. With that they associate increased wages, any amount to anybody, and they will have it operating right from the beginning.” „ , , , Vtr H. G. It. Mason: Hear! hoar! .Mr Clinkard : And there is to be an increase in pensions, and they are not to cost anybody anything, and there is no taxation. Again, I say, I don t think some of the flies will walk into the parlour. The member for Rotorua added that Labour had not been prepared to take any share in the country’s responsibility when the Coalition was formed. The Government had a record of performance behind it and would go down to posterity as one of the ablest Governments the Dominion had ever produced. (Ironical laughter from the Labour benches.) Turning to the cross-benches, Mr Clinkard said they had nothing to do with the framing of the policy, but could merely say. “ !fes” or “No.” Labour certainly offered an alternative, ghastly though it was. (Loud laughter from all parts of the House.) . Referring to the member for Wanganui being the Democrat leader in the House, Mr Clinkard said he did not like to prophesy, but advised him to look after his own roost, or lie might miss.