Speaker Wants Better Behaviour In House

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 16

Speaker Wants Better Behaviour In House

(New Zealand Pre** Association)

AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. “Parliament ha* bean a bit of a rabble and this year I win try and improve IL said the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Mr Algie) in an address to the North Shore Junior Chamber of Commerce tonight. “Every afternoon the gallery of Parliament is crowded with schoolchildren from all over New Zealand. They are young people of the most impressionable age. At that period of Parhament we appear at our worst behaviour. “As soon as wet get rid of the prayers, men get up. walk around and turn their backs to the Speaker and the whole place is on the move. “The children go back to their schools, write essays and give talks and they say that Parliament is a dreadful place. ”1 have tried to get the fellows to realise that, and to behave like model people for 15 minutes.

“I have not succeeded, but I am determined to if I can. I am going to get the men to act so that Parliament at that period when the children are present takes on the appearance of a classroom. "The children cannot move around while the headmaster is talking to them. “I believe that a great im-

provement could be effected if the first half-hour every d«y in Parliament which i* formal business, were conducted in a manner which i* more in accord with the businesa which i* before the House."