HATS OFF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 August 1924, Page 5

HATS OFF

INTERLUDE IN THE HOUSE

MESSENGERS WHO OPEN DOORS FOR MEMBERS

(From our Parliamentary Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr Fraser does not see why people should have to remove their hats when arriving in tlie vestibule of Parliament Buildings, and he feels quite hurt when messengers rush to open doors for.liim when he walks hither and thither about the Legislative halls. He voiced his feeling on these matters hi the House last night. The other night, he said, a friend of his came into the vestibule to see him, and no sootier did he poke his head inside the main door than ho was commanded by the orderly to take off his hat. After all, remarked Mr Fraser, the. man is a voter and taxpayer in the country. He is also a native'of the country, and looks upon Parliament as being his institution, as every citizen in the country should. This man occupies a responsible position in the community, and I would submit that these little things are quite unnecessary annoyances to the general public, whose House this is, and whose business we are supposed to be looking after. I supose they are the usual accretions of custom, and that nobody is responsible, but the time arrived when they could very well be dispensed with, and chucked overboard to the advantage of everybody concerned. Mr Fraser then dealt with the “open door” policy. There are messengers here, men who I have worked with on the wharves and elsewhere, who, when I enter the building, they rush to open tho door for me Although a member of Parliament, I still believe I am competent to open a door. (Laughter). A Voice: “A Minister’s door?” (Laughter). Mr Fraser: “If it were a matt/m of ordinary courtesy, well, I would not mind doing it myself. I would be. delighted, for instance, to open the door for the Government to walk out of office or anything of that description.” (Laughter). I humbly submit with all deference to custom and hoary tradition, that it is time members of Parliament learned to open doors themselves without troubling messengers about it.” “The hon. gentleman is in a great state about the door being opened for him.” remarked the Hon. Mr Nosworlliy in reply. “The hon. gentleman lias become extra democratic.” (Laughter.) “T don’t, know whether he wants me to recommend to Mr Speaker that ho opens and closes every door himself.” (Laughter). The Minister added that the rule regarding the removal of hat s was put. into force by Mr Speaker’s instructions. It was a custom that had obtained in the House years ago, before tho fire.

Mr Fraser: “It should have gone up in the fire.” (Laughter). “Why not apply it to members?”, inquired Mr Holland. ' The Minister added that in finding fault with the innovation members were finding fault with Mr Speaker.