“BLUFF AND BLUFFERS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 725, 26 July 1929, Page 8

“BLUFF AND BLUFFERS”

A RACY ADDRESS NEW TITLE FOR SIR JOSEPH (THE SUSS Parliamentary -R.port-rI PARLIAMENT BLDGS., “Bluff and bluffers” was the title of an address given by the Hon. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), in a speech in the House of Representatives tonight, when racily summing up the Governmen".. According to his ideas he suggested a new title for Sir Joseph Ward should he be elevated to a higher rank. Mr. Wright said the ’Government’* threat to go to the country was all bln AT. He asked how long the Government was going to last. It was worth while considering what would happen if a crisis occurred in the House, and he believed that the party provoking the dissolution would go. The Cabinet was one of bluffers. A Voice from the Government Benches: By one who knows. Mr. Wright contended that the Gov. ernment was one of bluffers and it had bluffed the country and itself. The Prime Minister's announcement that he was prepared to go to the country was all bluff. He noticed that the High Commissioner’s term reached the end some time ago. but had been extended to September, which meant that the job was being kept warm for someone. The man in the street said that the term would be further extended and finally' Sir Joseph Ward would go home and take the position. Mr. Wright believed that if Sir Joseph Ward went home he would also go up another step in honours. He had a title and could get another. “If he does,” said Mr, Wright, “as he is a South Island man, I suggest he should call himself Earl of Awarua or Lord Bluff.” There was loud laughter. He continued that the possibility of an election was bluff, and could be brushed to one side. It was a spectre to hypnotise members, and there was nothing in it. He quoted from “The Constitutional History and Law of New Zealand” to show that a dissolution had been refused in many instances, and the Rime Minister could only make a recommendation for dissolution. Every avenue had to be exploited to find out if the Government could be carried on.