BOOTS AND BARE LEGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 759, 4 September 1929, Page 7

BOOTS AND BARE LEGS

MR. McDOUGALL AS A DEBATER LABOUR MEMBER’S ANALYSIS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Tues. Quietly and dispassionately, like a scientist examining something under a microscope, Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) took the Budget speech of Mr. D. McDougall (Mataura) to pieces in the House of Representatives this evening and showed the public what made it click. It appeared to him, he said, that there were five points in the member's speech. First, he was the only member of the House who had ever worked hard. Second, he wore a certain kind of boot. Third, he preferred to see girls going about with bare legs, or “shanks,” to use the exact wording. Mr. McDougall (loudly): You’re wrong. Mr. Fraser: Instead of silk stockings. The fourth point, said Mr. Fraser, was that Mr. McDougall had been kicked when he was a boy with a number nine boot for doing certain things which he should not have done. Fifthly, he was ail authority on good taste in debate. Regarding the first point, Mr. Fraser said that undoubtedly the honourable member had worked hard, at least physically. If he worked hard mentally there would be an improvement in his speeches. Regarding the boots that Mr. McDougall wore, Air. Fraser was of the opinion that this was not exactly a national question, although boots might be all very well in their own way. As to girls going round bare-legged instead of in silk stockings, Air. Fraser did not know whether Air. AlcDougall was in favour of this from an economic or an artistic point of view. (Daughter.) Kicking in Air. AlcDougail’s youth had apparently failed to have any good effect. Indeed it seemed to have produced a sei-ies of repressions which were now breaking out. His remarks about good taste in speeches and those addressed to Air. A. Hamilton (Wallace) and Air. D. Jones (Alid-Canterbury) Were the neatest joke of the session. It was amusing for Air. AlcDougall to set himself up as an authority. His speeches might not be long, but they were broad in the Rabelaisian sense. They were spoken in broad Scots in more senses than one. Air. Fraser concluded by remarking that he was sure that “McDougall on good taste in debate” or “AleDougall on courtesy” would be of considerable help to members.