NOT APPRECIATED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2949, 21 September 1910, Page 14

NOT APPRECIATED.

A JOKE IN PARLIAMENT. CFboh Our Own Correspondeht.) WELLINGTON, Sept-ember 16. r \ll people have not the fame ideas as I to what constitutes a good joke. In the House of Rtpresentatives to-day an allegation was made by Mr Hanan, M.P. for Invercargill, to the effect that some members of education, boards had abused the regulation under which members ofan education board receive travelling and other allowances in connection with meetings and official inspections. During the ensuing discussion, Mr Buchanan, M.P. for vVairarapa, stated that he had just received an anonymous letter, evidently from a member of the House, as follows :—" It is up to you to show how much ill-gotten gains you nave received from education boards." —(Signed) " Honesty." Mr Buchanan said that the note paintd him very much, for he had never drawn a penny by way of such allowances during the whole 30 years that he had been connected with the Wellington Education Board. He thought that members should' be. protected from such insulting communications.—(A chorus of " Ohs.") The Hon. T. Mackenzie remarked that he was the culprit. Seeing that Mr Buchanan appeared to be very serious over the question of allowances, hb had, as a joke, and with the concurrence of members around him, sent the note. Only the other night when he (Mr Mackenzie) was speaking, Mr Fisher had sent him a jocular message. They had afterwards had a good laugh .on the point. Mr Buchanan must know that no one could impute such a charge against him. " I accept the assurance," rejoined Mr Buchanan, " that it was intended as a joke, but it does not say much for the Minister's common-senee to attempt a jokb under the circumstances."

To this Mr Mackenzie replied that he would never attempt a joke on Mr Buchanan again.

The incident closed with a remark by Mr Fowlds to the effect that it was dangerous for a Scotchman to attempt a joke at any timb—especially on another Scotchman. —(Laughter.)