NEW PARLIAMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18954, 3 March 1936, Page 2

NEW PARLIAMENT

BROADCAST DEBATES TECHNICAL ARRANGEMENTS GROUPING OP MINISTERS A'• novel feature in the House of Representatives when the new Parliament meets on March 25 will be an additional table in an unobstrus.ve position, taking up but little ot the "1 ■ready cramped space. Seated at this table will be a broadcasting commentator or announcer at a super-sensitive microphone, and a radio technician, ready at a signal to open one of four microphones for the greater enlightenment of the unseen people and to switch off throe others so that practically none of the “too much loud conversation,” which sometimes forms a background to speeches in the House, will go forth. The innovation will represent New Zealand’s first attempt at broadcasting Parliamentary debates. Although t e authorities are keen on the experiment, it is difficult to find much general enthusiasm about it. There A. a prediction of a short life for the uoveltv unless the new Parliament brings - forth ft higher percentage of inspired debaters than has been, known for many years.

PLACING OF MICROPHONES As indicated, there will bo four “hanging microphones,” one for, each section or grouping of the House. It had been suggested that either individual microphones or only one large central “collector” should be used—this latter may he adopted for the opening of Parliament —but after ,/iving consideration to the obvious disadvantages of both, the technicians, it is said, have decided to install four instruments each suspended from the veiling of the House at points covering the grouped benches of members. This arrangement is expected to give adequate efficiency in broadcasting the principal speeches without allowing too much interruption or incidental comment and conversation to go over the air. It is recognised of course that some of the “real atmosphere” of Parliamentary debates must be broadcast, too, for without it a political speech might be considered by listeners as being insipid entertainment. array of government MEMBERS

Another feature of the new House likely to command attention will be the remarkable array of Government members, reminiscent of the old Seddon da vs. The Labour Party’s 5o representatives will occupy almost three-fourths of the available seating accommodation, and two Independents, Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) will be seated together on a bench in the back row of the Op position benches to the left of the Speaker. Two other Independents, Mr. H. M. Rushworth (Bay of Islands) and Air. H. Atmore (Nelson), will have an end seat each in the back row of the centre benches, but separated by the aisle leading to and from the main entrance to the House.

Most of the benches of two rows of the block to the right of the Speaker will be occupied by the Ministers. According to present arrangements, the front-benchers will be the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and the deputy-leader, Mr. Fraser, who will sit together; the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce. Mr. Sullivan; the Minister of Labour, Mr. Armstrong, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry; the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Semple, and the Attorney-General, Mr. Mason. Four other Ministers will be seated in the second row of benches, the benchmates being the Minister of Mines, Mr. Webb, and the Postmaster-Gen-eral, Mr. Jones, behind Messrs. Nash and Sullivan; and the Minister of Lands, Mr. Langstone, and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lee Martin, behind Messrs. Semple and Mason. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr. J. A. Lee, and the Government Whip, Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), will sit together, behind Messrs. Armstrong and Parry, while Mr. W. J. Jordan (Mauukau), who is to be the next High Commissioner in London, and Mr. R. McKeen (Wellington South), will be together behind Messrs. Savage and Frnser.

NO SPECTACULAR OPENING

The new Parliament. w'Jl be the twenty-fifth in New Zealand’s history. Although it is known already that many people have expressed the intention, of attending the opening oi Parliament on Wednesday, March '25, it should be noted that the procedure will be extremely formal and entirely without spectacular features. Parliament will be opened by a Commission of Legislative Councillors, who, having been already sworn in, can take an active part in Parliamentary business. It is, of course, an offence for other members to take any part until they have been sworn in, hence the need of devoting the first day to the swearing-in of members by the Clerk of the House, Mr. T. D. IT. Hall, who administers the oath, and the subsequent election by the House of a Speaker, who on this occasion will be Mr. W. E. Barnard, Labour member for Napier.

The real day, as far as attractiveness is concerned, will be Thursday, March 26. when the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, will deliver the Speech from the Throne in the Legislative Council Chamber.