TAKING THE CHAIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 20 (Supplement)

TAKING THE CHAIR.

In olden times, a chair was a sign of authority and only the master of the house sat on one. His wife, children and all guests sat upon benches or stools, but the master took a chair to show that he was head of his own house and must be obeyed. . Before the chair came to be used in an ordinary house, it was regarded as a Royal seat, and, as this seat became more important, it was set on a dais and covered with a canopy. Thus it was taken as a symbol of authority bv the nobles and masters. In our day, to “take the chair’ ,at. a meeting means to preside. The Chairman’s word is still law, and to disooey him at a public or private debate is considered almost unpardonable. If a man cannot keep order, he is not a good chairman. So you see how the authority symbolised by the chair has been handed down to us through the ages.