POLITICAL HUMBUG.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15826, 26 July 1913, Page 10

POLITICAL HUMBUG.

MR RUSSELL PILLORIED.

A LESSON IN HISTORY.

(Fboh Ouh Own (,'orresfoxdent.)

WELLINGTON, July 25.

There were some amusing passages in tho House to-night in the course of the debate on the Pensions Bill, but the best probably occurred at midnight, when the Prime Minister delved into .history to justify himself, and pillory Mr Russell. "Time after time," declared Mr Massey, " I have eat horc and heard lion, members opposite declare that I was opposed to the old-age pensions scheme, but up till tonight I have not thought it worth while to correct them. Now I shall do so. I have here volume 95 of Hansard, and I desire to say that I voted for the second reading of the first Old-age' Pensions Bill. But who voted against it?" There were the names of sonio men not unknown in the Liberal camp, Buch i\a the Hon. T. Mackenzie, and the Hon. R. M'Kenzie.—(Laughter.) Mr Massey continued to quote history, and placed Mr Ruasell in amusing difficulties. He reminded the House that in committee on the first measure a-very comic incident occurred. About midnight the Chairman of Committees vacated the chair, and the Hon. R. J. Scddon also slipped out. In their absence Mr Russell slipped into the chair, and he (Mr Massey) would never forget the look upon Mr Seddon's face when he returned and saw him there

" Neither will I." declared Mr Russell,

" And why," followed Mr Massey, ' I shall never forget it is because in Mr Russell's rush for his scat he was expecting that Mr Soddon's boot woukl overtake him."—(Uproarious laughter.)

Mr Massey continued his excursions through tho committee stage on that occasion, and to the lingo delight of the House outlined incident after incident where Mr Russell had voted against Liberal proposals, for whioh he (Mr Maraey) had voted,

An .amusing turn came in the middle of this when Mr Russell suddenly vacated his seat and rushed for the door, only to be recalled by tho laughter of the House and the outstretched commanding finger of tho Prime Minister. " Come back and face it out." ho said.

Mr Russell turned and came back in confusion, bnt declared: " I was only going to get, another Hansard to check vour figures.'' A messenger was despatched for this, and Mr Itussell resumed his sent while Mr Massey mercilessly ran through his catalogue of charges and inconsistencies on the part of the member for Avon. " And his earner," summoned up Mr Massov in conclusion, ''can only be described M arrant political humbug and arrant political (hynocracy right through."