PARLIAMENT HOT-HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 4

PARLIAMENT HOT-HOUSE

A MEMBER'S PROTEST,

(From Oua Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, December C.

The atmospheric conditions in the j House have been so oppressive during ! the past few sittings tliat Mr Massey, just before the hour of rising on Saturday morning, was constrained to suggest that a large marquee should be erected on the lawn in order to enable members lo jet away from the "poisonous" air. Tne very trying ciu'uwstunces under which the work of the Hotise_ is being carried on arc greatly intensified by tlie admission of so many visitors to the galleries during the evening sitting. Not only are the men's and women's galleries filled to their utmost capacity, out chairs are placed all around the chamber at the backs of members. These are occupied by ladies, whilst on the leuof the Speaker, in the place usually reserved for " distinguished visitors, 1 a large number of male visitors nightly find sitting-room quite irrespective of any claims to distinction that they may or may not possess. This matter was referred to this afternoon by Mr Ell, who pointed out that such overcrowding was detrimental to health, and he asked the Speaker whether he could take steps to mitigate the evil.

The Speaker said that if the House desired that a restriction should be placed upon the admission of strangers he would see that its wishes were carried out.

The Prime Minister said that it was never intended by the Government that the public should sit around the chamber at all, and he .expressed a hope that some action would be taken in the direction desired by Mr Ell. He intimated that he would move a resolution on the subject to-morrow.