A POLITICAL MENAGERIE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 671, 23 November 1909, Page 5

A POLITICAL MENAGERIE.

MB. HOGG 'ON THE CABINET. ' During i his speech at the indignation meeting last mght, Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., made some very uncomplimentary references to the members of tho Ministry. ".What,kind of a Cabinet havo wo got at tho present timo?" ho asked. "Rotten," promptly interjected a deep bass voice in the audience. , , v ' It was an incongruous Ministry, continued Mr. Hogg, and ho said that he did not know any brand of whisky or tea that contained soi manyimgredients. '(Laughter.) Tho Ministry,'he] uent on to say, reminded him of a penpatetii) show that he once saw when a boy in tho Old Countrj, 'The proprietor had ? f 8 ? containing a " miniature menagerie," but what tho owner called " a happy family." There was a dog, a cat, a white rat with red eyes, a Pigeon, an <ml, a hawk, and a sparrow, lhe object of this strange menagerie, it was explained, was to show how animals who yore generally not fond of each other could Jive together in peace and | amity when faced with a common danger, the danger in that case being represented by the animals' fear ol their keeper. Tho present Now Z;alana Cabinet, Mr. Hogg continued, was a good representation of this "happy family.' 7 They wore really not very happy, as they represented almost every possible. political now, and if cich Minister attempted to carry out his individual convictions they would all bo fighting one another. ' "I will now describe these animals," said v V****** to draw an analogy between the Ministers and tho menagerie of his boyhood days "Dr. rmdlay," ho observed, maj be described as tie political hawk, ready to seize and pluck either friend or „«i\ L, ? m ,° l ? >pi ; esonte *• drowsy dog, the ™X k g V Hf b S n ,? that h ° occasionally wags his tail. Mr. Millar is tho rat with the w Sol'' m okl ?P f .°, r "J 8 Principles that he has lost. Mr Kiwlds. sleek and mild, is the pigeon rapidly losing his Tree-trade and Singletax leathers Mr Hodcriok M'Kenzio may bo llTi t0 „ "Ik "Y 1 ' w £°"*w better at night than during, the day Mr, Buddo-whoin is he liter 1 think he represents Hie poor little ?. Ji?. a T 01l ii C k lrping ""Pcfully and wondering what will happen next »I must not forget my old friedt], Mr Thos Mackenrie,-tho specially Iree trade Minister, who is-like,the cat. always ready to make a ;.spring., '■-■ Sir Joseph Ward" continued the ex-Minister, is m charge of this little menagerie.' ' He has the aninia's all in his cage, and the dog and the cat, although their tails may be tild totogether, find themselves compelled <to fcgree,' and they have no_ moie backbone among them than a jelly-fish" (Laughter) v - --^