MESSENGERS FOR PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 8

MESSENGERS FOR PARLIAMENT

New Types Employed PROFESSIONAL MEN AMONG APPLICANTS .Many professional men have been among the numerous applicants in recent difficult years for positions as Parliamentary orderlies and messengers. As a rule more than 300 applications from many different types of men have been received for comparatively few vacancies at the beginning of eacli session of the Legislature. Sixty attendants only are required, and of that total fifty, at least are employed for the session. Moreover, many of them are practically sessional permanents, several having been so employed for close on a score of years. During the present adjournment of Parliament ten attendants only are required, this number excluding Ministerial messengers. The pay of messengers during the session is a little over, £4 a week.

Because of the remarkable changes time and economic circumstances have wrought in both the personnel and selection of sessional Parliamentary servants their employment during the recess has became one of the minor problems of State administrator's and officials. So far, it has been solved by the simple process of leaving the majority of the men to fend for themselves until Parliament resumes. Many Difficulties. The question is beset with many difficulties to-day, but there was a time when selection of Parliamentary messengers was easy and completely free of any unemployment problem during a recess. In those far-off happy days most of the attendants were drawn-front th.e Permanent Artillery staff, and when political lire had ceased for a. few mon ills, tlie mon returned to tlie roar of cannon and military duties. , As is tlie ease to-day with returned soldiers and sailors with naval service, the artillerymen made excellent parliamentary orderlies, who never fell asleep at their posts, even when tho legislators had become drowsy or dull enough to induce sleep in ordinary disciplined listeners. There was not a great deal of difference when different types of messengers were employed "under the old system of party preference, and the distribution 'of political “loaves and fishes.” Many of the parliamentary orderlies then were slaughtermen and waterside workers, who, after relatively easy service at Parliament House for a winter session, returned to their callings nt the right, season for making fairly big money killing beasts or loading into ships.

Preference for Returned Soldiers.

All those, prosperous features and conditions have gone. The type now generally is altogether different. And tlie difference ettslly could be more pronounced it the selection were determined wholly by sympathy, for during the past years of economic strain, tlie hundreds of applicants have included unemployed accountants, lawyers, and artisans. A definite policy as regards employment, is followed. Wherever practicable, -all oilier things being equal, returned soldiers are given preference, while this preference is greater according to the nuniiber of tlie applicant's dependants. Since the adjournment of Parliament on November 10. less than a dozen messengers and doorkeepers have been employed at one t ime on the principle of a fortnight on and a fortnight off. This me.thod, of course, has alleviated, but. has! not eliminated individual hardship. Many of the sessional servants will tie glad when Parliament resumes about the middle of February.

Interesting stories could be told of able iiien who, after had luck, have made good as messengers, and gained reward in the form of permanent employment by the State in -better positions. but it would lie embarrassing to them to narate their experiences in a shaggy world. (