LABOUR’S LOST GLORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3663, 9 July 1927, Page 3

LABOUR’S LOST GLORY.

LIBERALS’ WANDERING MINSTREL.

Some delightful tilts at the Opposition groups in the House of Representatives were worked off by the Minister of Finance (Hon. W. D. Stewart) as a preface to his speech on the Address-in-Reply in the House on Thursday.

The Minister said he understood that the no-confidence amendment placed the Government on trial, but in the debate so far it had been the other way about, since the official Opposition had been on the defensive all the time. Immediately any questions concerning an analysis of the economic situation were raised, they were regarded by the Labour Party as “a subtle attack on wages.” The Labour Party regarded any questions relating to wages as taboo, reminding one of the jn’iests of old who would not let anyone come near the tabernacle. (Laughter). It would be interesting also to discover who were Nationalists and who were Liberals from the other Opposition group, and the Minister suggested that it would be a great convenience to the House if the members would line up and go through a drafting pen. Mr. Veiteh had recently gone through the country and had stated that there was a great Liberal revival. The Minister said he was reminded of that famous character in the “Mikado,” who sang: “A wandering minstrel I, “A thing of shreds and patches.” (Laughter). “It is a., part his old leader used to play,” added the. Minister, “and lie used to sing:

“My catalogue is long through every passion ranging, Unto your humour changing I tune my subtle song.” (Uproar). Amid further laughter the Minister referred to the position of the Leader of the Nationalist Party (Mr. G. W. Forbes), who, he imagined from a telegram Mr. Veiteh received, was going to go in with the member for Wanganui on a pool ing system similar to that of the Dairy Board. He was afraid, however, that the member for liurunui was very much like Casabianea — “still on the burning deck of Nationalism.” (Loud laughter). A member: What about the Independent Reform Party?

The Minister: They are all right. 1 think I can say there: “Let them alone and they’ll come home Wagging their tails behind them.” (Uproar). The Minister reverted to the Labour Party, who, lie said, seemed to have lost their picturesqueness and their liking for the dramatic. At one time much was heard from them about the modern constitution of society, continual denouncement of wage slavery, and Russia as the vanguard of civilisation, which used to invest proceedings with interest. There had been a gveat change. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) : Not in regad to wage slavery or capitalism. The Minister claimed that there had been hedging and compromise in all directions.

The Leader, of the Opposition (Mr. 11. E. Holland): The Minister’s lively imagination again! The Minister smilingly inquired the reason why Labour’s laud policy was thrown to the winds, and quoted from a report of the recent annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party of Napier dealing with some remarks by Mr. Fraser. “Mr. Fraser,” said the Minister, “used to be the man who knew all about unemployment, yet I find him saying at the annual conference at Napier: “The Parliamentary Party need a lead on this very important matter.” (Loud Laughter). Mr. Fraser: I never said anything of the kind . (Renewed laughter). The Minister said he wished the party would revert to their old attitude, because it made them a little more interesting. (Laughter). “It is a case,” said Mr. Stewart, “of ‘Tell me the tales of long long ago.” Before passing on to other subjects, the Minister had his final tilt at the Labour Leader. Mr. Holland had complained of his treatment by the Press, and the Minister read an extract from a Manawatu paper which 'dealt in glowing terms with the ability of the member for Buller. Mr. Holland was asked whether lie woull care for the clipping. (Laughter).