QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 14

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

No “Centuries” In Session (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. Under the revised rules, the “question game” played during formal business at the beginning of every Parliament day produced no “centuries” in the session just ended. The champion questioner of the session was Mr R. D. Muldoon (Government, Tamaki), who is also the first member of a Government to have occupied this position. His score of 87 questions asked and answered does not approach that of 115 put up by the present Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Gotz) when in opposition several years ago. Under the old rules, which usually resulted in the question receiving much more publicity than the answer, Mr N. E. Kirk (Opposition, Lyttelton) last year lodged 73 questions in some three months. Today, however, the Minister involved gives his reply at once. This has meant that some Opposition members have withheld their questions, or obtained the answers in the privacy of ministerial rooms.

Mr P. Blanchfield (Opposition. Westland) took second place in this year’s game with 51 questions, mostly on West Coast affairs. Third place went to another Opposition member, Mr A. J. Faulkner (Roskill), with 46 questions. Last year, under the old rules. Mr Faulkner did a little better with 69 questions. The minor place-getters were Messrs W. W. Freer (Opposition, Mount Albert). 45: J. B. Gordon (Government, Clutha), 39; H. E. L. Pickering (Government, Hurunui), 30; J. G. Edwards (Opposition, Napier), 27; H. J. Walker (Government, St. Albans), 24.