"MOREPORK AND LARK"

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 24, 28 July 1927, Page 13

"MOREPORK AND LARK"

PROTEST AGAINST-LONG HOURS

A conflict between a desire to talk and the necessity for work imposed serious physical strain on members of Parliament this week, and provoked a strong protest from Mr. Jordan (member for Manukau). "There have been all night sittings and stonewalls ever since the New Zealand Parliament was established, but it is about time some better arrangement was made," says Mr. Jordan. "It is absolute madness to be up all night trying to carry out the country's business and when tired out to attend to business with departments for his constituents. A member should start soon after 9 o'clock in the morning. Committees meet at 10 on two or three mornings. Any reasonable elector would agree that his member should leave the House at midnight. From 9 till midnight is surely a good day's work, and, with visits to the electorate, 15 to 20 letters daily, and about 100 weekly to write, time is well filled. "We cannot blame any party for the all night sittings, as they have always been, but there should be a better arrangement. I intend to leave the House shortly after midnight to enable inc. to do justice to my duties during the day.. A man cannot be a morepork and a lark."