“SICK AND TIRED”

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1931, Page 5

“SICK AND TIRED”

MAORI MEMBER’S OUTBURST. (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. ‘* I am sick and tired of jokes made on the floor of this House at the expense of the woe and tribulation of this country,” was the preliminary outburst of Mr T. Makitanara (Government, Southern Maori), when he discussed the political position during the financial debate last night. He demanded of Reform members, “why not stand to their guns and tell the country what was keeping them from fusion?” Mr J. A. Nash (Reform ; Palmerston); “They are frightened of you.” Mr Makitanara: “They are frightened they will sink. Don’t play ducks and drakee.” Mr Makitanara went on to suggest that the right note had been struck by the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, that Mr Coates did not know whether he stood on his head or his legs. The Reform Party was split and scattered to the four winds. Mr D. Jones (Reform, Mid-Canter-bury); “This is not a party speech.” Mr Makitanara: “No, a eoramon-

sense one.” The Maori member proceeded to give credit to the Labour Party for making its position quite clear, one of its members having stated that it would be “a godsend to the country” that wc were near the end of this Parliament.

“We will,” he added, “march with the banner of the people on our shoulders, but Reform will have a shattered banner on one side, and the Labour banner on the other, when the firebells ring in November.” (Laughter.)

Mr P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central): “Will you rely on the casting vote of the returning officer this time?”

Mr Makitanara: “The more empty a kerosene tin is, the more noise it makes when it is beaten,” (Laughter.)