POLITICAL HUMBUG.

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

POLITICAL HUMBUG.

MR RUSSELL PILLORIED. (Fbou Oub Own Cobbkspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 25. There were some amusing passages in tha House to-night in the course of tlio debate on the Pensions Bill, but the best probablyoccurred at midnight, when the Prims Minister delved into history to justify himself, and pillory Mr Russell. “ Time after time,” declared Mr Massey, “I have sat here 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 havo here volume 95 of Hansard, and I desira 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 some men not unknown in the Liberal camp such as the Hon. T. Mackenzie, and the Hon. R. M'Kenzie.—(Laughter.) Mr Massey continued to quote history, and placed Mr Russell in amusing difficulties. He reminded the House that in committed on the first measure a very comic incident occurred. About midnight the Chairman of Committees vacated the chair, and the Hon. B. J. Seddon also slipped out. In their absence Mr Russell slipped into the chair, and he (Mr Massey) would never forget tho look upon Mr Soddon’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 seat he was expecting that Mr Seddon’s boot would overtake him.” —(Uproarious laughter.) Mr Massey continued his excursions through tho committee stage on that occasion, and to the huge 'delight of the House outlined incident after incident where Mr Russell had voted against Liberal proposal, for which be (Mr Massey) 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 bo recalled by the laughter of the House and the outstretched commanding finger of the Prime Minister. “ Come back and face it out,” he said. Mr Russell turned and came back in confusion, but declared: “I was only going to get another Hansard to check vour figures.” A messenger was despatched for this, and Mr Russell resumed his scat while Mr Massey mercilessly ran through his catalogue of charges and inconsistencies on the part oT the member for Avon. “ And his career,” summoned up Mr Massey in conclusion, “can only bo described as arrant political humbug and arrant political hypocracy right through.”