A VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 404, 11 February 1913, Page 2

A VISIT TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

On looking :d^wn from the Gallery, . I suppose the first thing that strikes the eiranger is the sniallness of the House. We had entered the Gallery on tip-toe and with baited breathy expecting to find ourselves in the presence of* something immense and formidable. Instead, -we found ourselves gazing down on something small and comfortable ; on rows of padded, seats and ordinary-looking men. On the Opposition side the member for Olielsea was softly speaking. No one seemed to be j taking any. notice. On either \side of the House members appeared to.be" relating to; each other what they had been doing the night before. Mr Lloyd Geoige and Mr M'Kenna were laughing together. Mr Balfour and Mr Lyttelton, with, their feet on the table, stared at the ceiling. Mr Chamberlain seemed absorbed in arranging ; some detail of 'drees. The .member for Chelsea, slight, diffident, and* prim, spoke on in tones of pained politeness about ecclesiastical law in Wales. After listening for some time, we formed the opinion that he must be the worst speaker in the House. We soon learned that we were wrong. Mr M'Kenna rose to reply. And then Mr Balfour spoke. And finally we heard Lord Robert Cecil. By this time we had quite a friendly feeling for the member for Chelsea, and were convinced that we had done him' a grave injustice. But the carping, critical spirit that possessed us soon wore off as we watched strong men struggling with words. And what a struggle it is! We heard member after member , deprecating that he was; not perhaps qualified to speak; that he only wished to say a few words; that he hoped he would not be misunderstood, or that false construction ; would be placed on his words, or that his sincerity would be doubted, etc., etc.— until we felt a glow of admiration for the patient spirit of the House. — Speeches as Spoken. — When one reads the reports of speeches in papers, one is impressed by their phraseology. But this is what actually happens: — The member for East Blankahire rises. "I should like to say, or rather simply point out, in reply to the honorable gentleman right opposite — I. should say the right honorable gentleman before me — I mean there — (points) — that in susection 3 ; page 4 — (consults paper) — I should say subsection 4 } page 3 — there is nothing at which offence by reasonable men can be— nothing in which reasonable men, I should say — (looks to his own side and receives encouragement) — nothing, I say, at all ! And I repeat it," etc. This, of course, reads in the papers as follows: — "The member for East Blankshire stated, with considerable force, that subsection 3, page 4, contained 'nothing in the slightest degree offensive to reasonable men." etc. ; r • . — Speakers as They Are. — It was a very dull debate,- but we will give our r impressions briefly. Mr Balfour spoke rather badly, but with graceful charm, and seemed delighted because he made a sort of epigram that everyone laughed at. . Mr Lyttelton we could not hear, but he seemed perfectly satisfied with what' he said. Mr M'Kenna has a very ap? pealing way, and is the only speaker we heard on the Government side who spoke with an English accent. Lord Robert Cecil reminded us of deadly fireworks that refused to go off. His brother, Lord Hugh Cecil, was by far the most fluent, although we could not follow him. Mr Ellis Griffiths looks theatrical, but speaks very gravely, in the manner of one who refrains from stating the real horror of the case in order not to upset the feelings of the children of the Opposition; We were very disappointed that Mr Lloyd George did not speak. He came in once or twice,.apparently in order, to tell the, Home Secretary the latest joke. Mr Churchi% looking quite the gravest person in the House, came in for a moment. —Disillusioned.— We lingered until 5 o'clock in hopes of hearing other speakers, and came away with the feeling that the House is a plaoe where the ordinary things of life occur, where a man can say what he wants to say without bothering how he says it, and where he can be sure that, if he ha© anything to say he will be listened to with attention. Moreover, it, is not a place of dreadful ordeals, -ik we had supposed. Under the pleasant glow of electric light, it has' a 1 homely sort of atmosphere. People with world-famous names yawn.and lounge and crack jokes ; and it must surely be more of an ordeal to address an Albert Hall meeting than to make a speech in the House of Commons. There is just one thing to add. An American, a stranger to us, was seated in front of our row. He listened to everything with close attention, and, judging by his expression and ejaculations, considered the scene more formidable and impressive than anything he had witnessed in his own country. When Loid Robert Cecil addreseed the House, he rose reverently to his feet, and we thought he was going to remain standing during the noble lord's speech. However, he sat down again. — 'British Weekly.' ;;:■