CLAIMING SEATS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16938, 12 January 1923, Page 8

CLAIMING SEATS.

MEMBERS LABELLING THEIR BENCHES. So keen is the interest in the present political situation that some will no doubt be found who will attach significance even to the members’ choice of benches in the House of Representatives (says the “ Dominion ”). Most of the Liberal benches are already wearing labels, and some of the Reform seats arr similarly marked. In the Labour corner, however, no tickets have yet been attached. In the last Parliament the Reform Party filled all the benches to the Speaker’s right, and overflowed from the. first set of cross-benches even into the second. In consequence, some of the Government supporters found themselves planted in the Labour stronghold. At least Vine Liberal was there also. Now Messrs Burnett and Bitehener, ttvo of the isolated Reformers of the last Parliament. haA'e moved up much closer to the Speaker and to their political chief. Mr R. A. Wright has come from the first set of crPssbenches into the main Reform camp. .Messrs K. S. Williams and Hockly have become bench-mates at Mr Hockly’s eld address. Messrs Hanan and Buddo (I iberals) will bo found in the set of benches Avhieh is generally regarded as the property of the Liberals. Last session Mr Hanan was a stranger in the Labour camp. The seventeen Labour members pf the i cat Parliament will fully occupy the corner Avhere the Labour members of the last Parliament sat. There are just seventeen seats there. Official Labour in the last Parliament required inly nine of them. What may or may not “ mean sometl ing ” is that Mr G. Witty, a Liberal who does not own Mr Wilford as his loader, is in the seat occupied Vast session by Mr Cffutha Mackenzie, a Reloimer. If the political augurs draAV conclusions from Mr Witty’s desertion of the front Liberal benches, they may feel inclined to draw conclusions also fijom the fact that Mr Allen Bell, the Independent Liberal, who now represents the Bay of Islands. is to be found on -Mi- Witty’s left in the seat occupied last year bv Dr Nvwman (Reform). Mr Witty is now physically, if not politically, further from Mr Wilford than ( he was before. The seat that belonged to Mr C. E. Statham (Independent) lias been taken by another. Mr Statham’s name is not to bo found on any of the benches, but some of the prophets have been, metaphorically, labelling the Speaker’s Chair for him.