PRESSMEN PROTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7916, 27 September 1911, Page 7

PRESSMEN PROTEST

A " STRIKE" AGAINST PARLIAMENT.

DEMAND FOB A QUIET HOUSE,

As a protest against the buzz of general conversation in the House of Representatives last night, making it impossible to accurately report tho proceedings of Parliament, the members of tho press gallery unanimously “ went on strike" and carried their demands. They , asked for sufficient quiet to bo able to do their w-ork, and tho legislators, who had been joint offenders'with a number of ladies seated around tho back of tho - chamber, made a complete capitulation. At 7.45 p.nr. tho noise was equal to that of a market-place; twenty minute* later, when tho “ strike" ended, tho silence was complete, broken only by tho voice of tho member 1 addressing tho chair. • During tho afternoon tho House had discussed the overcrowded and uncomfortable state of affairs, which prevails when the galleries are crowded at night, and tho worst conditions then described by the complaining members were , repeated after the dinner adjournment. Members, in Committee of Supply, were occupied in considering tho- Bailway Department's estimates, totalling .£2,375,000. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister of Bailways) was bombarded with questions, and tho various speakers submitted to frequent interruptions. They also had tho handicap of talking against a subdued roar of gossip.’ 'When tho Minister replied', scraps of interesting and apparently important’ statements were re-corded-now and again in tho press gallery during temporary lulls in the general conversation.. Pressmen, compared notes in tho hope of patching up a connected “story," but after a few minutes, despairing of accuracy, they 'determined to suspend operations, leavo tho gallery and send a protest to tho Chairman of Committees (Mr Colvin). ■ The reporters patiently awaited an improvement, and a quarter of an hour went by fruitlessly. Sir Arthur Guinness (Speaker of the House) noted the “strike," as it was called, and- inquired tho reason. The Prime Minister , also concerned - himsolf in v this unusual “ strike." Sir 1 Joseph came to tho gallery, writing-room to inquire what the trouble was and whether ho could, assist tho pressmen. Ho was told that in the interests of the members, as well as the newspapers, reporting had been suspended because accuracy was impossible, and that this attitude would bo main-, tained until the Chairman of Committees called for order. Sir Joseph expressed his sympathy and undertook to promptly deal with the grievance. Ho had scarcely finished speaking when tho announcement was made-that the Chairman.- 'of Committees had called attention to the noise made by members and ladies, and that there was an improvement. Then the pressmen again took their seats at the reporting desks. 1 They found Mr Massey on his feet, securing a remarkably attentive hearing. Looking towards-'--.,,, tli© reporters, the leader of “the Opposition. remarked. ** X am glad the strike has ended satisfactorily. It is_ another instance of tho benefits of conciliation.