COMEDY IN THE HOUSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 29 July 1907, Page 2

COMEDY IN THE HOUSE.

PERSONAL AVOHD PICTURE. Mr MeLaehlan's contribution to the financial debate in the House on Wednesday night took the form of a pergonal criticism of members who had already spoken. The member for AshburItou was in merry mood, and he. entertained the House for half an hour with jsonie references to his fellow-members I which provoked the utmost laughter. ! Attention was first directed to the. leader of the Opposition. "I have great j respect for him," said Mr Laehlan. "He was here when 1 came into the House in '1)1. I always loked upon Mr Massey as a coming man; in fact, had he been a little older than me, I would have opposed his position. (Laughter.) But seeing that he had so much more vitality than me, I gave way to him. Mr Massey is a man no one should tackle without some consideration—even the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward regards him as a foemau worthy of his steel. (Laughter.) ■'Mr Mnssey's criticism of the Financial Statement was a bit washy. (Laughter.) But, oh, when he came to the Customs stors, and to the omissions and remissions—(An lion, member: "And commissions'")—No, not commissions, the other anomalies—the leader of the Opposition excelled himself. I was pleased at him, and sorry for Mr Millar. (Laughter.) Of course, my sympathies are on the other side of the House" (pointing to the Government benches).

"And when Mr MeNab came on the ground—ho, ho! —with his claymore, and put on a martial air. and walked to the front and challenged the Massey to a camhat—well, it reminded •me of Roderick Dhu." (Here Mr Laehlan pictured the meeting of the two warriors of Scott's story). "Massey," he added, concluding his word picture of the leader of the Opposition, "can only play second fiddle to the MeNab." (Great laughter). "Then there is the member for Bruce, lugubrious and dismal—(laughter)—so impossible to be up-to-date. I would not attempt to crucify Allen, because I have a personal regard for him. (Laughter). "Oh, ho! But Mr Wilford! Didn't he slaughter Mr Allen! But by the time he arrives at the age of Mr Aitken he will say less and think more. (Laughter).

"Mr W. Fraser—well, he's a useful member of society. Fraser tills 'a great big gap—he's the coroner of the House. (Laughter.) Mr Fraser doesn't want a jury; he returns a verdict without any jury at all. (Laughter). "Mr Barber—he was great on shoddy, I notice. Why that should be introduced into a prominent debate as this I don't know. We ought to be above shoddy. (Laughter.) (Here came an interjection from Mr Thomson.) My friend on the right is always worth listening to, but the worst of it is you have to listen for an hour before you know what he is going to say." (Laughter).

Coming to the tariff, Mr McLachlan said: "Fancy the Government giving away £20,000 to the big sheep-farmer! No one in the community earns money so easily as the big squatter. Tt was done in order to curry favor with the

woolly man. Have they given notice lo sack nil the sheep inspectors? What of the cattle? Many thousands of cows have been slaughtered at the will of an inspector who know no more about it than the lion, member for Hawora." (Laughter). A voice: What about motor-cars? Mr McLachlan: T don't like motor-

cars—never'will have one. I don't like the stink of them. (Uproarious \ m „],. tor).