A MOCK PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1926, Page 15

A MOCK PARLIAMENT.

SUBURBAN CLUB'S DIVERSION. COMPLETE UEBATE STAGED. A complete staging of a mock parliamentary debate provided a diversion for a crowded audience at Papatoetoe last evening. The proceedings were conducted in strict Parliamentary form by Sir Frederick Lang, in the joint capacity of Speaker and Chairman of Committees. The parties were: —Government: Mr. E. D. McLennan, M.P. (Prime Minister), Rev. T. H. Roseveare, Dr. A. B. Jameson, and Messrs. J. Park, A. !T. Hall, F. H. and K. A. Leonard. Opposition: Messrs W. J. Jordan, M.P., Beecher Bullen, J. Buchanan, H. PAndrew, C. A. Moore, F. E. Carr, and E. C. Franklin. A bill, with the title of "Compulsory Male Marriage Act, 1926," was debated by the House. For the purposes of the debate the members of the Government party were distinguished by fictitious ministerial positions, and those of the Opposition were constituted the representatives of various electorates with a local application. The bill was introduced in strict Parliamentary style by a message from his Excellency the Governor-General, and passed its first reading on the voices. The debate on the second reading occupied two hours and proceeded by alternate epeeches from each side of the House. At one stage the debate was interrupted by an appeal to the Speaker on a point of order, which arose out of the perplexingly simple question, "What are spinsters?" The Speaker's ruling on the point was followed with close interest. Wh°n the debate had concluded the bill was carried at the division by a majority of one, and it was finally shelved by an adjournment of the House. The evening was of special interest as numerous attempts to arrange a similar function had been made by the Papatoetoe Literary and Debating j Society in previous years, but had not I materialised. For the purpose of last evening's proceedings a raised platform to accommodate the parties was erected in the body* of the town hall.