Retiring Age Of House Messengers

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 16

Retiring Age Of House Messengers

(New Zeolond Press Associotiom

WELLINGTON, July 2. Conflicting views on the retiring of Parliamentary messengers at the age of 70 were aired today in the House, which has more than 60 of them.

The subject was introduced, during the debate on Legis-j lative Department estimates, by Mr W. A. Fox (Opp., Miramar). Mr Fox criticised the ruling of the Speaker on the messenger’s age of retirement. There was no age limit for members of the House, he said. In reply, the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) agreed there were some men of 70 who had good years ahead. Others, however, were no longer able to do a full day’s work. * For this reason, Mr Marshall said. Sir Ronald Algie had made a general rule. It was fairer to have a known rule than to put both the Speaker and the messengers in a rather difficult position. It would be difficult to say to some people, "You’ve already passed it,” Mr Mar ' shall added.

, Opposing the ruling, Mr W. W, Freer (Opp.. Mount Albert) said that because the job was not always full-time owing to the recess, it was difficult to find messengers. Referring to the “security risk” in Parliament Building, Mr Freer said the employment of messengers meant they became conversant with those who worked there. But he called for stricter security measures. He said people were allowed to walk in and around the building without being questioned.