CLAIMING SEATS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 89, 11 January 1923, Page 8

CLAIMING SEATS

MEMBERS LABELLING THEIR BENCHES SOME CHANGES IN THE HOUSE So keen is the interest in' tho present political situation that some will no doubt be found who will attach significance even to tho members’ choice of benches in Ihe House of Representatives. Alost cf the Liberal benches are. already nearing labels, and some of the Reform, seals are similarly marked. In tho Labour corner, however, no tickets have yet been attached. In the last Parliament Reform filled all tho benches to tho Speaker’s right, and overflowed from the first set of cross-benches even into tho second. In consequence, some of tho Government supporters found, tliemselvers planted- tn the Labour stronglidld. At least one Liberal was there also. Now Messrs. Burnett and Bitchener, two of the isolated Reformers of tho last Parliament, have moved up much closer to- the Speaker and to their political chief. Air. R. A. Wright has come from the first set of cross-benches into the main Reform camp. Afessrs. K. S. Williams and Hockly have become bench-mates at Mr. Hockly’s old address. Afessrs. Hanan and Buddo (Liberals) will be found in tho set of benches which is generally regarded as tho property of tho Liberals.. Last . session. Air. Hanan was a stranger in the Labour camp. “ ' The seventeen Labour members of the now Parliament will fully occupy tho corner where the Labour members of the last Parliament sat. There are just seventeen, seats there. Official Labour in the last Parliament required only nine of them. What may or may not “mean something” is that Mr. G. Witty, a Liberal who does not own Air. Wilfqrd ns his leader, is in the seat occupied last session by Air. Clutha Mackenzie, a Reformer. ’ 'lf the political augurs draws conclusions from Mr. AVitty’s desertion of the. front Liberal benches, they may feel inclined to draw conclusions also from tho fecit that Air. Allen Bell, the Independent Liberal, who now represents the Bay of Islands, is to be found on Mr. Witty’s left, in tho seat occupied last year by Dr. Newman (Reform). Air. Witty 'is now physically, if not politically. further from Air. AVilford than'he was before. The sent that !b>?ilongcd to' Air. C E. Statham (Independent) has been taken by another. Air. Statham’s name is not to be found on any of the benches, but some of the prophets have been, metaphorically, labelling the Speaker’s Chair for linn.