HUMOUR IN THE HOUSE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4456, 21 August 1922, Page 2

HUMOUR IN THE HOUSE.

MR. POLAND EXCELS The “Free Lance” of a recent issue has the following: The quality pf good-humoured, yet biting- satire is not much cultivated among our politicians of the present day. Time was when we had much of lightening rapier play in the verbal wars of wit between Scobie Mackenzie and W. P. Reeves, and again there were the polished shafts 05 humour of the 'late Hpn. Dr. Pollen, to mention only one or two of the oratorical giants of the past. To-day such merriment is seldom heard in Parliament. One of the best, examples for many years past was the contribut’op. of Mr Hugh Poland, member for O’hinemuri, to the Address-in-Reply debate last Thursday. Mr Poland is a member who does not often trouble the House, but when he does speak he generally has something to say that is worth hearing. On this occasion he excelled himself in humour of a healthy type that makes even the objects of his satire join in the good-humoured 'laughter. For instance, Mr Poland thought it was bard that all the limelight of' praise from the Government speakers ■had been lavished upon the Prime Minister, when the fact was that he had men behind him who, if they weer allowed to give play to their views, and had minds of their own to give effect to them, could put New Zealand once more in the forefront of radical legislation. Then again, He thought it unreasonable to Hansardise the views of the Prime Minister in 1911, and compare them with his proposals in 1922. The Prime Minister was getting to be an old'man, and to make such a comparison was really not playing the game. Why shouldn’t the Prime Minister change his mind ? Before the end of this session, indeed, he was to change it on several subjects, "I've changed it with ie-» gard to you,” (reezingly inter-jeefei Mr Massey. “Of course,” retorted. Mr Poland with beaming countenance. “changed it several times. And. every time you changed it yo>i ; thought more of me than before.” j “On,” said tlie Prime Minister, laughing heartily, “I didn’t say that.” “Ah!” returned Ol.inemuri's c’cc’ - . “but I know it. ..And notwithstanding my modesty, I confess that I know it.” And so the good tempered raillery went on. It was one o,f thei very brightest patches in a generally dreary debate. Hugh Poland, by the way, has been; accustomed to “pl,ay the game” from his youth upward. Long before he dreamed of taking a place in tha political arena lie had made his marble good in the Rugby arena an.l' became one of Auckland’s foremost forward champions, and represented his piovince in many a famous contest against teams from other provinces and from abroad. His brothers Jack and Jim Poland also achieved representative honours in the fields of Rugby.