A HOT PASSAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 13

A HOT PASSAGE.

MR HINDMARSH AND MR ESCOTT. {From Our Own - Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 25. Air A. H. llindmarsh its at all times a vigorous Labour speaker, and he generally breaks ground in an interesting way when he speaks. To-night, when discussing the second reading of the Pensions Bill, lie indulged in flagellating talk because ho was interrupted. The passage was a very amusing one while it lasted, and greatly amused the House. First of all Mr llindmarsh “dealt with’’ Mr Fisher (Minister in charge of the Bill) because that gentleman had made some interesting comparisons between Governments past and present in regard to pensions. Mr H indmarsh inquired why ho indulged in such recriminations. Why did ho make such accusations? He knew the others would recriminate, and that recrimination would produce scenes which would degrade the Ministry in the eyes of the country. Mr Fisher’s action, therefore, was a deliberate attempt to involve his fellow Ministers in ruin in order to bring profit to himself. That looked very much like vaulting ambition, and they did not expect such actions from Ministers. "But you do it,’’ declared Mr Kscott. “1 am not a Minister,” replied Mr Hindmarsh. “ But you hope to be,’ r retorted Mr Escort. This started the tirade and the econo. “ If brains count you will never sec the House again,” declared Mr Hindmareh, while the House laughed. “ Where would you be if you did not hang on to the tailend of a party?” he continued. “What chance would a man like that have of entering Parliament unless he had Ministers backing him up and forcing him in? Like a poodle, he would follow the Prime Minister wherever lie went.” The Speaker; You must withdraw the word “poodle” and keep to the subject under discussion. Mr llindmarsh: “Well, I withdraw it, hut when interrupted I must reply. This man has neither personality nor ideas, and when I am interrupted by the vacuous laughter of the so-called member for Pahiatua I shall reply to him. I shall have to ask the Prime Minister to keep the tail end of hie following a little in order or else I shall have to take it upon myself to castigate him (Mr Escott) in such a way that he won’t interrupt again, and I give him notice of that. With this warlike declaration, but still breathing furious turnings, Mr llindmarsh subsided into Iris seat, and the laughing House passed on to less furious speeches. At a later stage Mr Eseott made a brief reply. He said ho considered that the remarks of Mr llindmarsh were unworthy of consideration. If that Iron. gentleman

derived any satisfaction from working off his verbosity in this manner he could assura him that it wouifT do him (the speaker) very little harm. In regard to lacking personality and originality he pointed out that he had won a seat which had never before been represented by a Reformer, and had displaced a sitting member so that h« must have had some originality and personality. He was prepared to contrast his rocord with that of Mr Hindmarsh, and would closo his refutation with the quotation that “when making for any given point do no* bo deterred by any terrier barking at your heels.”