WORDY WARFARE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9788, 11 October 1917, Page 6

WORDY WARFARE

MR HORNSBY CAUSTIC HIS FELLOW-MEMBERS TURN AND REND HIM. Compliments were flying freely in tho House of Representatives last night, during the third reading debate on tho War Pensions Amendment Bill. Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P. for Wairarapa, was commenting strongly on the. fact that only seven members had voted for the two guineas a week, pension to the widows of soldiers, when Mr W. Nosworthy (Ashburton) interjected—“ You are so tragic!' - (Laughter.) Mr Hornsby retorted: “If I were a mortuary curate, I would understand a little better tnan you do. I was saying (ho added), when I was so rudely interrupted—(loud laughter) —“a loud laugh proclaims the empty mind.’ ” (Renewed laughter.) Later, another interjection moved Mr Hornsby to refer slightingly id “ men of straw.”

Mr G. Witty (RiccnrloiT); “Can you show us a straw?” (Laughter.) Mr Hornsby (looking hard at the interrupter): “If I looked for a straw, 1 should look for it in the calf’s ixouth.” (Laughter.) Next session, ho added, ho hoped that the House would be in a better mood, that it would have shakcn_ off the fear that tho country was going to tho “demnltion bow-wows.” (Laughter.) NOT AT THE JOINT CAUCUS. Mr Witty said that anybody who didn’t know the hon. member would think that ho was quite sincere m what he had just said; but tne House knew him too well. Mr Homsby: “He is more sincere than you are, and doesn’t tell as many lies as you do!” . Mr Speaker: ‘The hon. member must withdraw -that expression. Mr Witty: “Oh, don’t worry about him, Mr Speaker.” (Laughter.) Mr Speaker: “Tho hon. member must withdraw.” Mr Horusby: fl l withdraw it. Every day tho hon. member makes statements that are contrary to fact.” (LaugnteMr Witty declared that tho seven members who had voted, as.Mr Hornsby gloried in having done, had not been at the joint caucus.- Tho hon. member for Wairarapa had bemi at •.one of the caucuses, however, and.haci given away much that had happened at it, and’had adopted and passed on as his own a number of tho suggestions made at that meeting. (Laughter.) Mr Witty was proceeding to say that all members wore anxious to do their best for th© Second - X).vision men .Mr Hornsby; “Fine words butter no parsnips!” Mr Witty: “The bon. member is used to those and to carrots, too. (Laughter.) The hon. member got on his hind legs last night—(tend laughter)— I was quite correct. They are the only tegs he has got.” (Laughter.) Mr Wit-tv. dealing with Mr Hornsby s speech, then did his best to leave him politically ■without a log to stand on. A GIZZARD, .NOT A HEART 1

Sir Joseph Ward, who followed, urged that tho House must not, on these pensions questions, allow thou* .hearts to run away with their heads. __ Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn): “No, by Jove, vou don’t.” Sir Joseph Ward: “I don’t Suppose that tho hon. member has got a heart.” (Laughter.) Mr Payne: “No, it’s just a gizzard. (Laughter.) On Mr Payne interrupting-at a-later stage, Sir Joseph Ward said: ‘J. propose, with all due d©f©ronco to the Lon. member, to deliver my own speech. When I want to deliver one in co-ope-ration with th© hon. member >1 will give him & nod, and no doubt* he will So the needful.” (Laughter.).. .- . “WE ARE SEVEN.” - Soon afterwards a remark By the Finance Minister as to members who bad voted with Mr Hornsby and Mr Payne, drew from another member .the interjection: “We are seven.” (Laughter.) Mr Payne: “No, he didn’t nod!” (More laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward: “We all know tho little maiden said, ‘Wo are seven.’ ” (Laughter.) , ■Mr E. P. Leo (Oamaru): “If they’re good they’ll go to heaven,”. (LaughtorSir Joseph Ward: “I don’t think the seven will nave much chance of that.” (Laughter.) Mr Payne: “You will, of course, if we don’t.” (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward: ‘T am, very glad the hon. member recognises there is no chanco of he and I being in the same place hereafter.” (Loud laughter.) Later' Sir Joseph Ward, referring to Mr Hornsby’s speech, characterised it as a very regrettable one. It was an unheard-of thing, ho said, to refer to statements made at a caucus. He had made reference to a statement made by the speaker in regard to the death duties. . i Mr Hornsby domed this. Sir Joseph said he accepted the hon. member’s explanation. Evidently Mr Hornsby and a fc-w other members of tho House looked upon themselves as tho tail that wagegd the dog. (Laughter.) . “SELF-GLORIFICATION.” Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) said that he was staggered at the deplorable speech delivered by the member for Wairarapa. It seemed to him an advertisement that there was just one righteous man in New Zealand. Young: “You hare just struck it.” (Laughter.) When th© hon. member had quoted Mr Mantalini as his financial authority, ha had evidently forgotten that that gentleman wound _up by turning tho mangle for his wife, while she earned his living. (Laughter.) Mr Hornsby’s speech reminded him of another Dickens character —Mr Pecksniff. He had never heard a more Pecksniffian speech. (Hear, hear and laughter.) The whole thing was a manifest self-glorification and a palpable attempt to curry favour with the outside public by unjust and ungenerous treatment of those who had done their best for the members of the Second Division. (Ujcar, hear.)