NOT APPRECIATED!

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 923, 16 September 1910, Page 4

NOT APPRECIATED!

A SPECIMEN OF PARLIAMENTARY "HUMOUR." -

. . Some people have a queer idea- as: to what constitutes a good joke., In the House of Representatives yesterday . an allegation was made.by Mr. Hanan,,M.P. for . Invercargill," to the effect that- sdrne members of education boards had abused the regulations under which members'of education boards receive travelling V and other, allowances in connection with meeting and officialiinspections._ " ■During the ensuing discussion Mr.: Buchanan, M.P. for Wairarapa, stated that he; had just received an anonymous' letter'evidently'from a member of the House as;' follows:— .. . . .' • ' ;

"It'is up to .you to. show how ;much ill-gotten gains you have' received from education 'boards." (Signed) "Honesty."; j Mr. • Buchanan Said that.' the note pained him' very- much for: he had never drawn' a . penny 'by the way : ; of/s.uch'v al-i lowances during tho ..whole 80 years that he had been connected with,the Wellington Education. Board. He thought that members . should. Ibe l protected;; from/. such insulting communications; To a chorus of "Oh's," the ; Hon..T. ! Mackenzie remarked that he was.the,culprit. Seeing 'that Mr. Buchanan appeared to be very 1 serious over .-tho quesuouufallowances he had as a joke',' and with the concurrence of members around .himi sent the'rioted Only the other night when. he. (Mr. Mackenzie)..was speaking, Mr. Fisher had sent him a jocular message. 'They had;afterwards had a .good laugh on the. point. Mr. Buchanan must know that no one could impute such a charge'-.; against, him. '7. ' v .'- "1 accept the;, assurance," rejoined Mr. Buchanan, "that ,it : was intended, as"'a joke,, but it does not; say much for. the Minister's common sense .to , attempt ■ a joke under the circumstances." '. „• To this. Mr. Mackenzie replied that he would never attempt a joke on Mr. Buchanan again. 1 ■ ' ' The incident closed with a remark by Mr. Fowlds to the effect , that it was dangerous for a.' Scotsman to attempt a joke at. any. time,; especially ,'on another Scotsman. (Laughter.) ; 1 . '