PARLIAMENTARY “BULLS.”

Shannon News, 14 March 1922, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY “BULLS.”

[Auckland Observer.)

It is sometimes alleged that humour is rarely heard inside the. sacred po'riais of Parliament. The following specimens of Parliamentary bulls and humour have been collected by Mr Vivian Potter, M.P., who is very jealous of the reputation oi the House of Representatives. He gives the assurance that they are all “dinkum.”

Ward: “You might as well try to get two pints of water into a quart bottle as do as the Hon. Minister suggests. Isitt: “Soldiers who are poultry farming have to compete . against Chinamen whose Qggs arrive here at less than 1/ a dozen.

Ye-iteh: “The Prime Minister ias panned a beautiful picture, but be is not going to get me to swallow it.”

Isitt.- “I would like to see a man who will bring his backbone io tne front.”

Holland: “The Hon. Minister’s shortcomings do not go far'enough. Parry: “Yes, go on, strangle us with a-club.”

Eysnar: “The lion, gentleman clutches at straws and makes mountains out of them.’’ Brown: “The Lord sends the rain and the sheep eat it.” Horn: “The man with an injured spine is less use to his widow than a dead man.”

J.ysnar: ‘When a man gets down to bedrock with liquor he then knows where he stands.” Dr. Pomarc: “i ant as wide awake when I'm asleep, as you are when you are awake.” Massey; “The fifteen millions were spent in the interests oi this country. ’

Mr Willurd: “And ignorance.” Mr Massey: “For ignorance I would ask the boil, gentleman to look in the mirror.”

Arbitration and Conciliation —Sullivan: “Like a bull in a china -shop handling industrial disputes.” Mr Rutherford, in an irritated moment, said: “1 am that sick of the whole business, I leel like throwing up my seat.” Hon. R. J. Seddon, in speaking to a member who had displeased him, said: “He would have a talk to the hon. gentleman with a firm hand.'’ ;

Dr. Buddo, referring to some -e----rmirks by F. M. B. Fisher, said: “The hon. gentleman got up to pour oil on the troubled waters, instead of which he poured on sand and set the whole thing ablaze.”

Mis A. Glover said: “He had every sympathy for poor widow's, whose husbands had left them.” '

Sir .1. G. Ward, speaking after Hie defeat of Mr Massey, said: “Thank God, the country has been saved from falling into the arms of the vultures. ’

Mr Wilford, referring to a new member of the House, said: “The hon. gentleman is only a fledgling, just beginning to cut his teeth.” Mr .1. Bollard, oil the taxation cl absentees, remarked: “That the subject was not a very important one; as there were not many absentees in this country.”

Sir J. G. Ward, replying to Mr Herdman, ’said: “I have knocked the lion., gentleman’s legs from under his feet.”

Hon. Bussell, in replying to Mr Fisher, said: “The hon. gentleman has thrown the apple ■of discord on the flour of the House,” “Yes,” said Mr F. M. 8., “and the lion, gentleman has got the pip.” Mr Hannan, speaking on an important question, said: “This is no time for platitudes. We must get down to bedrock principles, and deal with the question on broad national ines.”

Dr. Newman, pleading for exemption of married men from service, said: “It would he. iniquitous to force a man to go to the front if he had the "misfortune to have twins.” Mr Veitch said: “He supported a system that would embrace every member of Parliament.”

Mr Nash said (o Mr Holland: “One thing. I don’t go walking about the street on soap boxes.”

“Why has Mr Hunt, the nomineo of the slock and station agents, not been appointed do the Meat Control Board?” This w'as a question pul b Mr Massey at Palmerston on Satui day, and it was' answered as follows 1 ' “Well, Mr Hunt is a very good man but he has been opposed thf scheme. Is it fair to appoint a ma> wflio has opposed the setting up o the Board?" ‘ ;