THE SAME OLD STYLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19920, 16 August 1927, Page 6

THE SAME OLD STYLE

Parliamentary debates with their “tedious repetition” of arguments and statements told over for the hundredth time, are probably much the same all over the world. Perhaps that is why, every now and then, we hear from all kinds of quarters expressions of impatience at the futility of much of the discussion which takes place within Parliamentary precincts. An amusing instance was recently given by Lord Ullswater, formerly the Rt. Hon. J. W. Lowther, who was Speaker of the British House of Commons from 1905 till 1921. Recently, his lordship took a holiday trip to the West Indies, and while in Jamaica, paid a visit to the Legislative Council, which was then in session—Jamaica is a Crown Colony, and the Council, being partly elective by the people, partakes somewhat of the character of a Lower Chamber. Replying at a welcome-home function at the West Indian Club in London, about six weeks ago, Lord Ullswater recounted his experiences and, when he came to his visit to the Jamaican Legislative Council, caused great laughter by remarking humorously that the proceedings of tht body reminded him of Home politics in their worst days. Every member of the Opposition rose and said exactly the same thing in slightly different words and in that way the debate was continued for hours. It was. he said, a procedure of which he had been painfully conscious in former days. It irresistibly compels one to think of our own Address-in-Reply and Budget debates, not to mention a few others. However it is some consolation to New Zealanders to reflect that they are not the only people who are afflicted in this way.