LITERARY ALLUSIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 30

LITERARY ALLUSIONS.

MR RUSSELL IN A NEW ROLE. (From Our. Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 15. Not often is Shakespeare quoted in the democratic atmosphere of the House of Representatives, but Mr G. W. Russell this evening was in literary vein, and turned to two masters of English for similes and quotations. In the first place he drew upon Oliver Goldsmith’s “\icar of Wakefield,” in order to liken the Hon. James Allen in his financial mission to the Old Land to little “Moses” who, by

“higgling and higgling,” made such .good bargains. For party purposes, of course, Mr Russell did not forget to compare the result of Mr Allen’s mission with the end of the effort of Moses to sell the colt, namely—his return with a collection of useless green spectacles. In his second attempt Mr Russell drew upon the great English master Shakespeare for “a bouquet of quotations” for the whole of the Cabinet. On account of their literary characterisation these are worth recording. The quotations and the Ministers to whom they applied are as follow :

The Prime Minister: “Man, proud man; dressed in a little brief authority; most ignorant of what he’s most assured; his glossy essence, like an angry ape, plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven as make the angels weep.” The Minister of Finance: “I am Sir Oracle, and when I ope my lips let no dog bark.” The Minister of Justice: “God made him ; therefore let him pass for a man.” The Minister for Public Works: “1 would croak like a raven; I would bode, I would bode.” The Minister for Public Health : “In faith, he roars like any sucking dove. The Minister of Marine; “He hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows” (“politically, of course,” added Mr Russell). The Minister of Railways: “The pound of flesh which I desired is dearly bought and 1 will have it.”

The representative of the Native race: “I don’t much dislike the matter, but the manner of his speech.” Of the party as a whole: “Masters, it is proved already that you are little better than false knaves.”

Mr Russell’s allusions were received with merriment from all quarters of the House.

Since Mr Rus.soll was in Shakcsporian mood, the same weapon may be turned against one branch of his criticism. He used the old weapon of alleging conservatism against the Reform Government, but “what’s in a name.”

In replying, the Hon. James Allen repudiated the word conservative, and claimed that the Government had brought in more reforms in one year than had ever been initiated in any previous year. The Government, lie declared, was as Liberal as any that had ever been in office in this country.