MR. SPEAKER'S WIG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20407, 8 November 1929, Page 16

MR. SPEAKER'S WIG.

ATTITUDE IN AUSTRALIA.; LIKELY TO BE DISCARDED. OLD MACE STORIES REVIVED. [FROM our OWN COIinESI'ONDKNT.] SYDNEY. Oct. 81. Labour's nominco for tho Speakership in tho Houso of Representatives, Mr. Makin, has announced that if elected ho will not wear tho official full-bottomed wig that has never been scorned by tho Speaker selected by any other political party in Australia. Tho announcement is typical of Labour's attitude toward tho trappings of Parliament. Members of tho j party declare that tho timo for syrnI holism is past and that fashions of dress pf long ago servo no useful purpose in a modern Parliament. It will, of course, be impossible for Labour to ovorcomo mast of tho formalities of Parliament, but- it is anticipated that tho party will find jnicans of greatly simplifying tho procedure, and it will not bo surprising if it flics in' the face of tradition and rocs its own way. Labour likes to bo different—to show 'Jtho way in truo democratic style. Tho chief symbol of tho British Parliament is the mace. It is a sign of tho Speaker's invulnerable authority as servant of the House. No greater insult to the House of Commons could bo imagined than Cromwell's "Tako away that bauble," yet in Melbourne pranks havo been played with tho mace, both in tho State and Federal Parliaments, without being taken very seriously. Many years ago, indeed, tho maco was | stolen from the Victorian Legislative Assembly, and was never recovered. Tho police, it was whispered at the time, had a .very shrewd idea that one or two of tho wilder members had carried it away to amuso some boon companions. A Royal Commission investigated the stories, but without effect, and the disappeinrance of the maco has remained tho one Parliamentary enigma in tho State's history. Then, when the Federal Parliament sat in Melbourne, two sprightly members of the House of Representatives, taking advantage of a false ringing of tho bells, hid tho maco under tho front Opposition bench,- thus shocking tho Speaker and causing great commotion and, it must bo confessed, no little amusement.

The sergeant-at-arms, who guards and carries the mace, would presumably havo to use it if necessary in derfenoo of tho Speaker. Of course, no ono would think of tho maco in such an emergency. Thero would simply bo a call for a constable, who would use his own maco, better .known as a baton.

Mr. Makin, who is a giant, can hardly be blamed for refusing to smother his personality as well as his principles under tho full-bottomed adornment which has .survived only in Parliament and on tho Ranch. New Zealanders will find it hard fo beliovo that such things could happen .to tho maco as aro hero recorded, but they*' must not judgo all Parliaments by their own. There may be some dignity attaching to tho Federal Parliament, as there is. attaching to the New Zealand Parliament, but in tho State House in New South Wales dignity is an unknown quantity. More often tho Labour members make it a "rough house," and there aro somo Nationalists only too ready to help them.