THE LADIES' GALLERY

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1369, 21 February 1912, Page 9

THE LADIES' GALLERY

SPEAKER GIVES A WARNING. Trior lo the commencement of tho noconfidence debate in.the House of Representatives yesterday, the Speaker made a statement in regard to "the galleries and tho occupants thereof." It had been brought to his notice, ho said, that, several of tho ladies sitting behind members were in the habit of conversing and freely commenting, on speeches delivered by members. It was very disorderly to speak in this way, and still more so (o audibly comment upon speeches delivered by members. If anything of the kind occurred again, it would be his duty to take steps to clear the House. Turning next to the occupants of the Ladies' Gallery on his left, Mr. Speaker requested them not '° "ear their hats there in future. If'they did so, he would have to cease issuing tickets. No seats, Sir Arthur Guinness continued, would be reserved for the wives of members unless they arrived within five minutes of opening time. Tho Prime Minister complained that pne member for the City of Wellington had applied for 24 tickets. Mr. Fisher: "Why don't vou name him ? The Prime Minister; You mind your own business! Cries of "Order."

_ Mr. Spitaker: Members must observe the rules of debate. Tho Prime Minister went on to remark that a number of members wore unable to get any tickets at all. Ho suggested t"\- , „ tictet s available for the Ladies Gallery should be allotted, on each sitting day, to an equal number of members. At present some of the people 11 " cllln S fol * appeared to think that they had a monopoly of the galleries. The present arrangement was neither fair, reasonable, nor rjght. . Mr. H. G. Jill said that it was often impossible for people who came from outside Wellington to get into the gnlleries. Iho best plan would be to number the tickets and to'rcserve the seats. Mr. Speaker stated that he would confer with the leaders of both sides of the 4{o» ! y »" <l see what could be done. Tho Wellington member who apnlied for "I tickets, he added, did not ge't them, but only his share. Mr. Herries said that under the reguat'ons governing the old House thtj ladies gallery was not part of the Housi,. ! l i, was a question whether the privilege attaching to the ladies' gallery should not extend to the feats occupied by ladies right round tho present House. }!/■ Speaker ruled that tho seats occupied by ladies must be regarded as being outside the precincts of tho House. This meant that if orders were given to clear the House of strangers, ladies who were present would no t be ejected as strangers, lie Prime Minister urged that some system should bo agreed unon. The v-e----senoe of two many strangers nude tk» atmosphere of the House very bad. it was desirable that something'should be done as they might 'bo sitting there fo\ three- weeks or a month discussing matters of importance. Mr. G. W. Russell suggested that a small committee of five should be set up to deal -with the matter.

Mr. I'ishcr amd that a simple wav out of the difficulty would bo not to'issue tickets at all. Mr. I'll: What chance for an outsider then ? Mr. Fisher: The outsider would come early and pet a seat. Mr. F,ll: No chance at all. Mr. Fisher: Perhaps they might not pet up early enough to get' in ahead of the Wellington people. The matter then dropped.