A LIVELY BANQUET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2587, 23 August 1909, Page 3

A LIVELY BANQUET.

POLITICIANS AT VARIANCE

As a usual thing at banquets where politicians of different opinions are present matters of controversy are excluded from the speeches, but (relates the Otago Daily Times) things took a different trend .at the banquet tendered to the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister of Public Works, by the ClutJm River Railway League. There were present two Ministers of the Crown and three Opposition members of Parliament, and all seemed to hold different views upon the subject of railways, which naturally occupied' a prominent place in the speeches of the evening. The Hon. R. M'Kenzie made a clear pronouncement upon the Government s policy in connection with railway construction . A little later the Hon. IMackenzie spoke eloquently in advocacy of the claims of a light line of narrow-guage railway up the Giutha Valley. These two speeches containing matter with which he was at variance proved too much for Mr. James Allen, M.P., who could not resist the opportunity which presented itself ill replying to the toast of “Parliament, of indulging in a few criticisms of some of the remarks made. He claimed the credit for the Opposition of having originated a large part of the Government policy. He also said that the Hon. R. MTvensic was the latest convert to the Opposition doctrines in reference to railway construction. With matters in this* position, the Minister of Public Works seized the opportunity which presented itself in proposing the health of the Chairman to very seriously -flagellate Mr. Allen for his remarks. He opened with the remark that ho was of fighting blood, and straightway gave evidence of it by indignantly denying that ho over became a convert to “the fossilised old ideas ot Mr. Allen, who was travelling twentyfive years behind public opinion.” Mr. Malcolm, another Opposition member, did not escape the: lash, and was told that he was young, but was yet a nice man at weddings, and that lie would be of use when lie got some Liberal ideas. The Minister wne particularly vigorous in this concluding speech, and many of his remarks were greeted with loud laughter. The , gathering broke up at the conclusion of his speech, the hour being somewhat after midnight. ' t \ '■/"