MOCK PARLIAMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 120, 23 May 1922, Page 7

MOCK PARLIAMENTS

PROMOTERS OF THE PUBLIC SPIRIT. NEW UNION AT MT. EDEK. A very successful meeting of the newly formed Mt. Eden Parliamentary Union for the Mt. Eden and Epsom Districts, was held last night in the Presbyterian Hall, Mount Eden Road. There was a very lar<je attendance. The Mayor of Mt. Eden, Mr. J. W. Shackelford, presided, and gave reminiscences of the old Auckland Parliamentary Union of 30 years ago. He introduced Messrs. J. W. Shaw, M.A., and Vivian H. Potter, M.P. for Roskill, who explained the principles and procedure of Parliamentary debates. Mr. Shaw spoke of the younger days of those present, when young people were discouraged from taking any part in the discussion of public questions. In (hose more advanced days everyom:, young and old, was encouraged to express their own opinions in public and thus become better equipped for development along the lines of citizer - eliip which promote a higher public life and ii healthier notion of the individual's duty as a unit for the 'commonweal.

At the conclusion of the speeches a division of those present into parties phowed the following to .be the state of the poll: Reform. 36, with Mr. (ieo. Tutt as ['rime Minister; Moderate Labour. 22, with Mr. ,1. H. Reyburn as Leader of the Opposition: Liberal, 20, with Mr. W. ,1. (Jatenby as leader. Mr. R. McK. Morrison was elected Speaker and Mr. W. K. Martin Clerk of the House.

The Reform party has the responsibility of forming the first Government, which will put forward its policy at the next meeting, to be held nn Tuesday next in the Presbyterian Hall.