“FEW UNKIND WORDS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 719, 19 July 1929, Page 6

“FEW UNKIND WORDS”

MR. SAMUEL ASSAILS MR McDonald USING BOTH BOOTS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Thursday. “A boxer of the political compass, a chameleon,” and other terms were applied by Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames) in the House tonight in castigating Mr. T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa) for his remark about Mr. Coates and the Reform Party. “I am sorry the member for Wairarapa is not in his seat,” said Mr. Samuel. “I think that he knew I was going to say a few unkind words about him. The hon. member in his speech had talked to the Leader of the Opposition about tactics. That did not matter so much, but he had made an unwarranted personal attack. It was a piece of political impertinence.” Mr. McDonald had referred to the Opposition as being weak, effete and without a kick, continued Mr. Samuel. “The hon. member would discover before he was much older politically that the Opposition was not weak, that it was not effete, and that it had two boots.” (Laughter.) The speech of the member for Wairarapa was a series of misleading statements. He made a definite statement about the Leader of the Opposition that he had to withdraw. “The hon. member for Wairarapa,” continued Mr. Samuel, “was turned out by the Reform Party and by the Labour Party, and 1 congratulate the Labour Party on its fortunate escape,” continued Mr. Samuel to Labour roars. “He then stood as an Independent, and was turned down by the people. The only ones who would accept him were the present Government, and I believe it was a death-bed choice. (Laughter.) I think, if I were in order, I would class him as a political chameleon, because he has changed colour on every possible occasion.” Mr. R. Semple (Wellington East): Political Guy Fawkes.