PARLIAMENT ON THE AIR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18974, 26 March 1936, Page 5

PARLIAMENT ON THE AIR

VOICES FROM THE HOUSE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY DOMINION INNOVATION (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "This is a broadcast from the House of Representatives Chamber on the occasion of the opening Of the twentyfifth Parliament. For the first time in the history of New Zealand, a broadcasting microphone has been introduced into Parliament itself, so that even the most distant elector may gain some first-hand knowledge of the more important happenings. New Zealand is blazing the trail for Parliamentary broadcasts.'' In these sentences, the first commentator to use the microphone in any Parliament in the world commenced the broadcast over the New Zealand national stations yesterday afternoon, so that listeners could hear the proceedings associated with the election of the Speaker. So much formal business is connected with the opening of a new Parliament, including the swearing-in of 80 members, that it was wisely decided, hot to open the broad; cast when the House met at 2.30 p.m., but to delay the broadcast for half an hour. This enabled the broadcast td include a short description of how the members take the oath of allegiance to the Krng and to put over the microphone the actual process of swearing them in 'batches of four, so that listeners would not tire of the repetition of the formality. CHANGING- OF PLACES The commentator, seated among the back bench members, wisely filled in the time of waiting for the Speaker's election proceedings by describing the arrangement of members in the 'Chamber, pointing out how the Government supporters sat at the right, and owing to their large numbers were spread over to the "Noes" or Opposition side. The announcer was Mr. Charles E. Wheeler, of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, with a long experience, not only of political journalism, but also of broadcasting. He pictured the changed conditions since the last Parliament and the complete reversal of the personal scene, for now he saw the former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and his principal colleague, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, in the Opposition benches looking across at the Hon. M. J. Savage, the new Prime Minister, and his bench mate, the Hon. P. Eraser. There was, he suggested, a general air of newness, for the radio was an innovation. There were 33 members who had never before been in Parliament and the Government itself was new. As the Clerk of the House is not permitted to do more than point to a member desiring to speak, the radio announcer found it necessary to provide a running commentary throughout the election, so that listeners would.know the names of those who addressed the House. Members who were first to 'broadcast from Parliament were Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau), who moved the election of Mr. W. E.. Barnard as the Speaker, and Mr. R. McKeen (Wellington South) the seconder.