SHOULD PARLIAMENTS BE OBLONG?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 11 January 1944, Page 2

SHOULD PARLIAMENTS BE OBLONG?

MR CHURCHILL’S VIEWS The bomb-shattered British House of Parliament should be rebuilt with its ancient oblong shape, said Prime Minister Churchill, because a semicircular chamber “appeals to political theorists and enables every group to move aorund to the centre, adopting various shades of pink as the weather changes.” ' Proposing to Commons that it name a committee to consider plans for rebuilding, Mr Churchill remarked: “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.” He proposed that the reconstruction should use as much of the old shattered walls as possible. Calling the oblong shape of the chamber “ a very potent factor of our political life,” Mr Churchill said: “I’m a supporter of the party system, having seen many ardent Parliaments destroyed by a group system. The party system is much favoured by an oblong chamber. It is easy enough to move through those insensible graduations from left to right; but the act of crossing the*Hoor is one which requires serious consideration. Logic is a poor guide compared to custom.

“Logic, which created in so many countries the semi-circular assemblies which give every member not only a seat but often a desk with a lid to bang, has proved fatal to Parliamentary government.

“Commons should not be big enough to contain all the members at once without overcrowding, for its hold on the electorate depends to no small extent upon its episodes, even its scenes and rows, which everyone will agree are better conducted in close quarters.” (London bureau of American Press Associationj