“DRUMS OF DOOM”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 91, 8 July 1927, Page 8

“DRUMS OF DOOM”

HOW PARTIES CHANGE MR. DOWNIE STEWART’S WIT

(THE SUE'S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Thursday. 'J'HE opposition groups in the House of Representatives were effectively dealt with this evening by the Minister for Finance, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, who treated the fuli gal. leries to a demonstration of ready wit in answering a running tire of interjections while he was speaking upon the relation of the different parties in opposition to the Government. “I want to try and find out where these other groups are,” he said. “It •would be a great convenience to the House if they could be lined up and put through a drafting pen. I donm know which is which. The member for Wanganui says that he has been go ing" through the country getting on with his revival in Liberalism, but I have followed him through in the papers and he reminds me of the line in ‘The Mikado.’ the Wandering Minstrel, ‘1 am a thing in shreds and patches.’” (Laughter.) The minister quoted on, to the edification -of the House and the amusement of the Government benches—“My catalogue is long, Through every passion ranging Unto your-I*humour 1 *humour .hanging I tune my subtle “I am puazled as to the Leader of the Nationals,” Mr. Stewart continued. “He sent congratulations to the member for Wanganui on' being elected leader of the new party, and I thought he was toeing in with bin on a pooling system something like the Dairy Board.” LIKE CASIBIANCA Mr. Forbes: Is it absolute control! (Laughter.) Mr. Stewart: Ob, like Casabianca. he is still on the burning deck oi Nationalism. Mr. J. A. Lee: What about Independent Reformers? Mr. Stewart ("quickly): Oh, they are like the nursery rhyme we heart long ago, “Leave them alone, and they'll come home, dragging their tails behind them.” (Renewed laughter.) Mr. P. Fraser: A pretty sad case. Mr. Stewart then turned to Labour, and said that there was a great change in the party in recent years. At one time they were at least picturesque in politics, decrying wageslavery and capitalism; but they bad changed now. Mr. Fraser: Not in respect towageslavery and capitalism. Mr. Stewart: I see them hedging and compromising in every direction Mr. H. E. Holland: The lit* imagination of the Minister again. Mr. Stewart said that Labour hac altered its land policy. Mr. Holland: Why do you misrepresent us? . . I Mr. Stewart: I can only say *t> a ; was done at the conference where it was decided that the rights of freeholders were not to be interfered with in any way. Mr. Parry: Are you annoyed aoouthis? COMING TO HIS SENSES Mr. Stewart: I am delighted to > te that the hon. member is coining his senses on the question. , Mr. Fraser: It is justified, isnt ■ • Mr. Stewart: As for the men for Wellington Central, he ha* g® back. At one time he was the lean .» on the unemployment question. “U see that the other day he said Laoou wanted a lead on this question. Mr. Fraser: I said nothing of kind. .. I 0 j Mr. Stewart: I wish they wouw j back to the good old days. , I Mr. Holland: If the - Minister *- j back to the book he wrote on | ism things would alter. tte - Mr. Stewart: I cannot belief ■ the hon. member read it. Lab said for many years that the of doom were beating for Relo : Mr. Holland: Never more : than now. Are you going “> , with the amendment? t .[it §§ Mr. Stewart: Yes; any aspect , you like. I