THE HOUSE

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 July 1912, Page 3

THE HOUSE

The politicians played to a crowded House on Wednesday. When tha curtain lifted there was a complete change of scene. There was a new Prime Minister with a bald crown pointing to the press gallery. The forces of the new Opposition were scattered in disarray on the left side of the Mr Speaker. Mr Mussey having formally announced the appointment of his Ministry, Sir Joseph Ward was quickly on his feet with words of honeyed congratulation. He then smiling took up the role of critic, coinmentinp- on the appointment to the Legislative Council of a uominee as controller of Internal Affair and emphasising the impropriety of having the electoral laws and racing club ad> a 1 inistratiou directed by a gentleman who was quite out of touch with the people. He followed this np with a complimentaiy allusion to new members of the Cabinet, but stressed the fact that the small farmers were quite iguored. He further took occasion to remark on the difficulties which the new Ministry would be faced with because of ihe impossibility of controlling the great iinancial world without, and hinted that if niry time ho could be of assistance in giving advice on matters with which he Avas singularly i'ainilar Mr Massey need have no hesitation in invoking his aid. He indicated that tho rise ol: Mr Massey to power had boon attended by bornewhat unnatural circumstances, and said the question of supremacy would not be ascertained until Parliament had gone before its masters and mistresses. Mr Yeitcli followed with an earnest hope that the welfare of the workers would not bo overlooked by the new Cabinet, and Mr Payne followed with a oharacterktio speech in which he indicated that he intendcti to give tho Government v lead in framing Labour legislation. Mr Hat:an i'rowuingly administrated a eastigation to some members now behind Mr Massoy who wpio *'dead to principle and who wcro lost to self-respect.' 1 Mr. G. W. Puisircll followed with a declamatory effoit in which he emphasiod the fact that with the exception of tvvo members the new Caltiuot was composed of lineal descendants of the old Tory *piu-ty. / Sonic': !of tho Government' back-rankers .became •very restive under jrilfeTiliio} .o£l argujuent, and trind in vain to shoul thn speaker down, but the)' might as well have ondcavouiod"i;b dam Niagara. Then caiuo Mr Brown with a plea that the new Government, should buy out 24 of their friends who owned a quarter;at' a million acres along<the NapierGisborne line of railwa}r. Mr Harris felt it incumbent upon him to bestow a juvenile.benediction upon .the... head

of his chief, and to assure the House that the Mass-eyites stood for humanity, Liberalism, and progress. |Mr Atmore said a few emphatic wordjs to the effect that the country' was more democratic than the.sectionof the present House, Messrs Laurenson and Colvin both made speeches of a kindly and conciliatory nature, and received loud applause for their meed. Mr Massey, in reply, informed the House that his party stood for Liberalism and progress, and that the typical Tory was extinct as the nioa. Territorial distinctions did not appeal to a party which was anxious to, work for the country as a whole, He had, practically commenced life as a wagerearner, and had every sympathy with the genuine aspirations of Labour. In reply to the criticism of Hon. Mr Bell he indicated that the appointment was only a temporary one, and~that the portfolios would be readjusted. As an indication of "what the country :thought '' he pointed proudly |to a heap of telegrams piled on thej desk ' before him, and finished a good-natur-ed speech by asking the House to adj ofzrn until the end of the i month to Enable him to prepare his potycy. i This was agreed to. ■.-. •;- ,- j