NEW PARLIAMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18973, 25 March 1936, Page 13

NEW PARLIAMENT

OPENED THIS AFTERNOON PROCEEDINGS BROADCAST FIRST TIME IN DOMINION SWE AIIIN 0-1 N OH KEMO N V New Zealand's twenty-lifth Burliameiil anil tile lirst under a Labour Government was formally opened liiis afternoon by a enminission of Legislative Councillors. The jiroeeedings were broadcast, breaking new ground in broadcasting and Parliamentary procedure in New Zealand, for thi§ was the first time any Parliamentary business has been broadcast in the Dominion. The broadcnsl commenced at 3 p.rn. Members of the House of Representatives were summoned to the Legislative. Council chamber, where the commission declaring Parliament open was read to them. They then returned to their own rhamher. where, they were sworn in.

Members then proceeded to the election of the Speaker. Air. W. E. Barnard, Napier, was nominated by the Government, and was elected. Mr. Barnard, briefly thanking the House for electing him to that high office, said he would fulfil the office to the best of .his ability. The ceremonial opening by the. Gov-ernor-General will take place to-morrow. BROADCAST DESCRIPTION The description of the election of the Speaker was broadcast. When the broadcast, opened. the, ceremony id .swearing in the. members of Parliament was in progress and after the preliminary announcement the man at tile microphone described the scene-. The Speaker's chair was empty. In the Press Gallery, 20 or 30 newspaper men wen- watching the proceedings. Them was also an assembly in the Visitors’ (cillery. Tile legislators .were seated at small desks so arranged as to form a horse-shoe. [u front of the Speaker's chair, t lie (dork of I lie House sat. <)ii (he right of the Speaker’s chair were (lie (lovei i.inent members numbering 55. overflowing .on to the Opposition benches. The lit. lion. 0. W. Forbes, fate Leader of t lie Opposition, and the Ri. lion. ,J. (I. Coates occupied front benches. There was an atmosphere of newness in the House; there were 53 new members, as well as a change of posil ions. It was explained that when the noni-’ i mil or of the Speaker was announced, the name of the nominator would not be mentioned, but. the announcer said that In' would be Mr. \V. .Jordon, member for Manukau and future High Commissioner for New Zealand. SREAKER’R QEATAFICATJONS Air. dordon, in proposing Air. W. E. Barnard as the Speaker, made a brief speech, mentioning Mr. Barnard’s qualities fitting him for the post, and saving that the nomine l had all the essential qualities for the post. Mr. Robert McKeen, member for Wellington South, seconded the nomination. also speaking briefly about Mr. Barnard's qualifications. There were no other nominations, and lilt* proposer and seconder took the new Speaker to his chair, from which Air. Speaker thanked members for electing Him to such a high office. He mentioned that he was tenth in the line of Speakers, and recalled notable names such as Sir Maurice O’Rorke and Sir Arthur Guinness as liis predecessors. Mr Barnard said that he had served under only one Speaker, Sir Charles Statlnim, io whom the new Speaker paid a tribute. Mr. Barnard added that he would do his best to uphold the dignity of his office and to deserve the great trust imposed on him.

The Prime Minister, the Hon. M. -E Savage, then rose to congratulate the new Speaker. He was sure the new speaker would rise to as great heights as liis predecessor, to whom Mr. Savage paid a high tribute. Air. Forbes also joined in congratulating Air. Barnard. He knew the new Speaker would do his best to uphold the highest traditions of the House. Mr. Coates* and Mr. B. A. Wright also spoke. The latter was proceeding with his address at 3.30 o’clock.