THE NEW PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22744, 3 December 1935, Page 4

THE NEW PARLIAMENT

OCCUPATIONS OF MEMBERS A remarkable variety of occupations is included among the members of the new Parliament. The'. Labour, Party traverses a wide field of activity, there being 12 organisation secretaries, ,eigbt farmers, three solicitors, two ministers of religion, two storekeepers, two booksellers, two bakers, a doctor, a. school teacher, a teacher' of engineering, a journalist, a railway a manufacturer, a min-, ing engineer,, a farm implement trader,, an agent, an auctioneer, a. commission agent, an unemployment relief organiser, a herbalist, a miner, a painter, a coal merchant, a contractor, a, builder, a bootmaker, a grocer, and a fish shop proprie'The 18 European .members of the National Party comprise nine farmers, three solicitors, a company manager, a grain and seed merchant, a draper, a merchant, a railway servant/ and a veterinary surgeon. , . Among the five European Independents (Mr Sexton, who stood as an Independent Country representative, being included in this designation) there are a solicitor, a master printer, a signpainter, a merchant, and a milk vendor. The sole Country Party member is a farmer who was formerly, a surveyor. In. each case the occupation given is (the New Zealand Herald says) that followed by the candidate, before entering,, Parliament. The new Parliament also includes several very young men, the ages of four of them being 28 years, 29 years, 29 years, and 34 years respectively. OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY LOST. It is certain (the New Zealand Herald continues) that on personal grounds all members of the last Parliament -regret ■:the For 21 years be was one of the few New Zealand parliamentarians who could be said to possess “ a fine mind.” Among men of many types and all degrees of edu- : cation he remained, an lesson in intellectual integrity, without the least trace of pedantry or superciliousness, in knowledge of economics; finance, and the affairs of the wider; world none could equal him, and there was a singular bond of common interests between him and the, more studious of the Labour members, who envied his brilliance and spent many hours in talk with him when the House was not sitting—-and not 'seldbjn when it was. '■■ , ;; i , ' , Except for the few months before ne embarked for war service in 1915, Mr Stewart performed the whole of_ his parliamentary service under a physical handicap that would have put most, men out of public life altogether. . While in -. Prance as an officer of the Otago Regiment he was struck down by a most painful and disabling form of rheumatic' trouble, and when he re-entered the House it was upon crutches. Larer j he could not move about except in a> wheeled chair, from which he delivered some of his most telling speeches. YOUTH AND BRAINS. Typical of the new calibre of the younger Labour members of Parliament (says the Christchurch Star-Sun), Dr D. Gh M'Millan, of Dunedin West, and the Rev.'A. H. Nordmeyer, of Oamaru, bring youth as well as brains to their aid in public affairs. These members both spent student days at Otago University, and they were closely in touch with one another in Kurow before Dr M'Millan transferred to Dunedin. One had the care of the bodies of the people at the Waitaki dam and the other of their souls, or some of their souls. Mr Nordmeyer, like Dr M'Millan, is a Presbyterian. He was born in Dunedin, and Dr M'Millan in New Plymouth. Mr Nordmeyer attended the Waitaki High School, where he played Rugby and distinguished himself as a Later, he played Rugby in the Waitaki Subunion, and, when he gave up playing, became a referee, and was very highly regarded for his ability in that- capacity. As a debater, he was one of the Otago team chosen to meet the Oxford Union party that visited New Zealand-a few years ago. Ten years ago he was called to the Kurow Presbyterian Church, and still holds that charge. He is also convener of the Bills and Business Committee of the General Assembly. .