COMMONS NOT BIG ENOUGH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20898, 30 November 1937, Page 11

COMMONS NOT BIG ENOUGH

CANNOT SEAT ALL MEMBERS INTERESTING TRADITIONS If all the Members of the British House of Commons decided to attend a session of Parliament, the building would not be able to accommodate them—about 200 of them would not be able to find seats, Mr George Guy told the Timaru Rotary Club yesterday, giving impressions of his recent tour of Great Britain and the Continent. He added that even if all the public galleries were used there would still be some without seats. “Apparently they are not all expected to attend at one time,’’ said Mr Guy. Among the many things of traditional interest which are to be found in the House of Commons, said Mr Guy, are little pieces of pink ribbon which hang from the hat pegs in the Members’ cloakroom. The ribbons were a relic of the old days when Members wore swords, the ribbons being used to hang the weapons when their owners went into the House. Tradition also centred in the narrow strip of carpet which ran between the rows of seats and off which a member was not allowed to set foot while speaking. The prohibition was a reminder of the early days, when heads were apparently hotter than they are to-day, for It was thought that by moving off the carpet a Member would be close enough to stab him with a sword. During his Visit, Mt Guy had an opportunity to look at the records of the House, and there saw where an erasure had been made of the part where Cromwell referred to the Mace as a “bauble.” There was a teleprinter installed In the House, said Mr Guy, on which was recorded all the world news of the day for the benefit of Members. While he was there he was able to see the machine working, although It was a Saturday afternoon when there were no Members In the House. Mr F. B. Keyes was chairman and a vote of thanks was proposed by Mr A. W. Anderson.