Name mix-up amuses House

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 1

Name mix-up amuses House

The name of a member who was known as the “Father of the House,” Mr H. G. R. (Rex) Mason, was called by mistake in Parliamen last evening. It happened when Mr Rex Austin, the Government member for Awarua, stood up to second the Address-in-Reply motion. “Mr Rex Mason,” the Speaker (Sir Roy Jack) solemnly intoned. There was a roar of laughter. The embarrassed Sir Roy hastily corrected himself. An Opposition member called out: “He’d turn in his grave.” Mr Austin: Believe me, this politician is very much alive.

Mr Mason, "Father of the House” for many years,

was a member from 1926 to 1966 and was a Minister in the first and second Labour Governments. He died in 1975. When Parliament adjourned, the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) apparently thought that Sir Roy was having trouble with his name, too. He stood up to move the adjournment, but there was a pause before the Speaker called him by name. “Muldoon,” the Prime Minister volunteered. There was a burst of laughter, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Tizard) called out: “He doesn’t want to be mistaken for George Forbes.” The late Mr Forbes was Prime Minister in the 19305.