MERRY-LEE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 405, 13 July 1928, Page 1

MERRY-LEE

Labour Humourist REFORM’S FOIBLES SOME COMMUNITY SINGS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. Even the ranks of Reform could scarce forbear to chuckle when Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) embellished his contribution to the Address-in-Reply debate with humorous comment on Reform’s present-day policy and the proceedings at a recent Reform rally in V/ellington. Recalling the Prime Minister’s address at Morrinsville, he said the Prime Minister had first secured a breathless hush in the hall, and had tnen informed his audience he could not divulge his land-policy, lest the opposition got hold of it. “The mighty majority of yesterday,” said Mr. Lee, “has succumbed to infantile paralysis, and the only remedy lies in the ballot-box.” The Minister of Finance had been going round the country saying, with misguided impenitence, “If I die, I die.”

The Hon. Mr. Downie Stewart (laughing): I did not. I used no such phrase. EXTINCT VOLCANOES

“What about yourself V* asked Mr. V. H. Potter, of Mr. Lee. “The Hon. member for Auckland East,” said Mr. Lee, “will struggle back with a comfortable majority.” A voice: Some struggle. Mr. Lee: As for the member for Roskill, the member for an extinct volcano, after the next election he will be an extinct volcano liimself. What if Labour, went on Mr. Lee, had in policy turned from carmine to pink? Had not the Reform Party also shown a change of heart? There was none of the enthusiastic arrogance) of the last ejection. Reform could not, as formerly, solve the ills of the community with the magic talisman of “Coates and Confidence.” “To-day Reform is meek, humble, and apologetic, and from end to end of the country can be heard the supplicating whine of Reform apologists.” “CHICK, CHICK, CHICK” Mr. Lee discussed recent Reform rallies, particularly one held in the Wellington Town Hall, at which community singing was indulged in. As additions to future programmes for such occasions he suggested Mr. Downie Stewart in an act entitled “Juggling With Finance,” and a duet by Messrs. Jones and Lysnar. One of the songs sung at the Reform rally was “Chick, chick, chick, lay a little egg for me,” led by the Hon. R. A.. Wright. “Fancy applying that description to the wily and tough old bird who happens to be the Minister of Education,” said Mr. Lee, while the Speaker intoned “Order.” Mr. Lee also recalled that cabarets and parties had been held for the benefit of Junior Reformers. At one of these the Minister cf Justice, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, had delivered an address, and his subject was—The Borstal Institute. He suggested that the subject might have been better chosen, and that Ministers might devote their talents to the invention of a new dance, the “Reform Blues.” QUESTION OF SINCERITY Replying to Mr. Lee, Mr. V. H. Potter said his sincerity was sometimes open to question. At Ti.maru, for instance, he had informed an audience that if necessary he could speak for a week on finance, and that he could tak€) a new angle every time he spoke.