PARLIAMENTARY PITFALLS

Evening Star, Issue 20252, 13 August 1929, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY PITFALLS

PUZZLES FOB THE HEW IS.P.

[By Major-general Sir Cecil Lowtiikb> K.C.MB.,'' ill the ‘ Morning Fost.'J

la the huge library of tlio House of Commons one volume is noticeable by .its absence, and that is a ‘ Now Member’s Vade-mecum.’ It elected at a byelection the newcomer will easily bud a friend to take him round and to put him up to tlio ropes; to the uiaui ■ropes at least, but that will not suffice to teach him tlio whole complicated network which goes to ; make up the procedure and the custom of the Housc v

Those mem hors who come m at a General Election are usually in mien numbers that they have to find out everything for themselves, and that is a long process. The studious/ and persevering mil plough their way_ through ‘ May’s I’crliamentary Practice ’; hut there exists also a short cut m the ‘ Manual or Procedure,’ a handy volume of under four hundred pages.’ . The value of this work is limited by certain facts. Us phraseology is .strange to all except perhaps the legal profession, and presents to most: students a terminological Alsatia which leaves the reader in a state ol stunned

bewilderment. If and when tne student arrives at the meaning of the forms oJ words and absorbs their intention he must then proceed to check wha t ho has learnt by tlio numerous amendments, additions, and cancellations oi Standing Orders which from time to time appear. And in certain cases the words of the

Standing Orders do not make sense, and do not pretend to do so. For instance, there is an order which reads; “If any member be suspended under this order, his suspension mi the first occasion’’—-that is ah. The .succeeding lines of the order were deleted by the House many years ago, and nothing has been substituted for them. The student will and nothing to to!!

him about a groat number of matter;: of intimate interest shell as to whom to apply for a locker, the where and the how of balloting lor admission ior strangers and ladies, who arc the privileged persons with acknowledged rights to certain scats, rights not to bo jn- , fringed by the newcomer endeavouring to pre-empt such > claims by a I “'prayers ” card inserted in the holder at back of scat.

Ho will wonder why a member at-

tending the House in .muform is requested to leave his sword at the entrance to flic Chamber, whilst Black Rod and Members of the Household on

their lawful occasions the door of the House wth a “tailor's sword” gut about their wauls. There is indeed no ascertainable pro-

hibition of the wearing of arms in the House ; the practice is based on tradition. But tradition gives contrary evidence also, as it is understood that the lines on the carpet before the front benches, which may not be overstepped by speakers, were drawn at such a distance as to keep the two parties out of reach of one aimther’s swords. The writer confesses to having been gmln of grave offence when he took _hu seat in 1015, for, though duly relieved of his sword by the doni-koepcr, be went to tlie table and took his oath with a fully-loaded revolver on Ins hip having come over for the day Irom the trendies in France.

Now members have a great deal to

loam, and arc wise if they sit quiet and watch and listen for a while before Kecking prominence. Few will wish to emulate the member who took his seat, made bis maiden speech and was suspended, all on his first day in the House. To gain tho ear of the House it is quite unnecessary for a member to let bis voice bo constantly boa rd. Those

whom the Hou.-o listens to most rcaddv ure those who know their subjects. and

can put what they iiavo to say clearly ami concisely Oratory :# unnecessary, '[’he great majority of speeches are

made with little or no preparation

and deal with points arising during, the debate; but the speeches which receive the greatest attention’ are those tn which thought and propagation have boon devoted- Such speeches Slave the great advantage of being delivered without the hesitation, bad grammar, and repetition which tot/ olTen characterise improvisation. Tim now member will not bo slow L;

realise that, however much ho may dislike an opponent’s politics, methods, or form oil address. lie cannot afford to

have personal enmities. Any turn of the wheel may throw the opponents of

yesterday into his own camp to-mor-row, and as committees usually include representatives of all parties, the work of the nation would suffer if personal likes and dislikes were to interfere. It is ail to tho credit of British politics that two member; of diametrically opposite views can light with conviction across the House, and then go off to dinner together in complete amity. The advocacy of Uietr respective eases loses nothing by tins attitude, though (1m ignorant often assume that disagreement cannot be sincere unless accompanied by persona! hostility.