OVERCROWDING IN THE HOUSE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14162, 30 September 1911, Page 2

OVERCROWDING IN THE HOUSE.

PARLIAMENTARY AMENETIES.

(sracui to "the jpbess.") WELLIKGTON, September 29. A somewhat lively discussion ensued in the House this afternoon on a report from the Standing Orders Committee, with a view to preventing overcrowding in the galleries end on the floor of the Houee, where ladies are permitted to sit. The Committee recommends that all tickets issued to date bo cancelled; that a fixed number oi tickets for the floor for ladies and gentlemen respectively, and for the strangers' gallery, corresponding with the number of seats available, be issued from day to day, to bo in force for one day only; that tiokets of a different colour be issued for each class of visitors; that seats for ladies on the floor bo reserved for wives and daughters of members. Tho Committee added that these recommendations if carried out, would minimiso the evil in regard to ventilation, and they further recommended that whenever tho House rises the windows and doors should all be thrown open, and tho ventilating fans kept going until tho House resume*. Mr Wright referred to the limited room for visitors. If they were going to make a star chamber of it they might as well close the galleries altogether. The people, he maintained, had a right to see and hear what was on in Parliament. He believed it the people could see they would make a change. Mr Anderson advocated a preference to visitors to Wellington. Mr Jennings suggested a sraaU charge for'admission, which would add considerably to the revenue of the referring to the ladies who attended, fiaid that they had always conducted themselves well. A voice: You re a ladies' man. Mr Laurenson said the trouble was thai they wore.in a makeshift temporary low-roofed chamber, that had no conveniences at all as a House of Parliament. Under the circumstances ho was surprised at the order that was maintained, especially by the women who sat on the floor of the House. As to talking in Parliament tnnt Parliament'was for; they should be aWo to talk of everything, from tho affairs pf a school committee to the gift of a Dreadnought. ■ A member: It'e not only the decorum, it's tho ventilation. ! Mr Buick said the trouble was that they were in a ramshackle House, lie hoped to God he would never be in the House when members had become so uninteresting that the lad.es would not wish to be present, α-aughter). Mr Fisher, while referring to the qnestion of overcrowdinE. was u^- rrunted by the Hon. R. g«p».« c - _ Mr Fisher retorted th*t ws constituents came to Parliament because,of. the entertainment they got fromhearinc the Minister, of Pub he Works speaking. (Laughter.) Listening to the Minister of Public Works speaW was quite equal to hearing a piece ot lineoleum being torn up. (Loud laughMThe Hon. R. McKenrie: It's much more meloaions than ycraf flute. Mr Russell, referring to the fact that Mr Wright the member for Wellington South, had claiihed the attention of Mr Speaker while he (Mr Russell) was speaking to the latter, said he thought the member for Wellington South required a blue mil or black draught. Mr Russell ago had a tilt at Mr Jennings, who, be eaid, was qualifying to come in as a supporter of / both sides. . .. -Mr Jennings interjected, "Just like you in the pact." ■ Mr Fisher had a tUt at the matinee hat. Ho eaid ho had eeen one in the gallery_4ft 2in in diameter. Mr bright, replying to Mr Russell's taunt, eaid ho did not know that the hon. member for Avon added to his other qualifications that of giving medical advice. He had no doubt, however, that he would make a fair better doctor than he would a politician, for in days gone by he had a reputation for not knowing exactly where he stood. For his wobbling in those days he had been punished by his constituents. However, if he (Mr Wright) had to have tho draught prescribed for him, ho might say that he would much- rather have it than the draught the bon. gentleman got when he had his eye to the keyj hole. (Much laughter.) There was however, one point on which he could not take any "advice from the hon. gentleman, and tbut was on the land question, because no was tho Sißgest land shark in the House. (More laughter.) Eventually, it was decided to refer i the report back to the Committee. Members evidently thinking that tho reepmmendatione made were somewhat impracticable.