NEW PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 273, 18 November 1943, Page 3

NEW PARLIAMENT

OVER TWENTY FARMERS Farmers, lawyers and trade union secretaries or organisers comprise more than half of the Dominion's new Parliament. The remaining members represent a fairly wide variety of trades and a few professions. The largest individual group Is provided by larmers, the total being 22, although a number of other members engage in farming as a secondary pursuit. There are 10 lawyers and a similar number are, or have been, trade union secretaries or organisers. Several of the last group occupy Ministerial rank. Of the 22 farmers, 17 are members of the National Party and live of the Labour Party. Eight of Ihe 10 lawyers are National Party members and two are with the Government. The Labour members also include three storekeepers, two bankers, two clerks, a carpenter, an agent, an auctioneer, a stationer, a painter, a teacher, and a marine engineer. Among occupations formerly pursued by Labour members are those ot clergyman, journalist, restaurant proprietor, and boot operative. The National Party group numbers among its members two accountants, a company manager, a baker, a contractor, a builder, a merchant, and a retired civil servant.

The average age of all members of the new House is approximately 54 years. Labour members are slightly older than their National opponents, the average Labour age being nearly, 55 years, against the National average of nearly 52. Fifty years separate the oldest and the youngest member. The oldest members are Mr. J. W. Munro (Lab., Dunedin North) and Mr. H. T. Atmore (Ind., Nelson), who are 73. The youngest member is Mr. T. P. Paikea (Lab., Northern Maori), who is 23. Next to Mr. Paikea are Mr. G. F. Sim (Nat., Rotorua), who is 32, and Mr. J. T. Watts (Nat., Riccarton), who is 34. Six new Labour members of the House have an average age of 42 years, this average being considerably affected by the youth of Mr. Paikea. The average age of the 17 new Naticeal members is 49.