PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY
JOURNALIST’S REVIEW. EXPERIENCES IN THE PRESS GALLERY. WELLINGTON, August 29. ? Some interesting .Parliamentary history wap narrated, by Mr Charles E. Wheeler, of the Parliamentary Press Gallery,, last night, when responding to the toast of his health proposed at a gathering held to mark his completion of twenty-five years’ unbroken service in the Press Gallery.
Mr Wheeler sketched a vivid picture cif the work of the Press Gallery when he first entered it in 1906. He considered that the lines of political cleavage were more distinctly marked in those days. That was the time when the. leasehold-freehold battle was at its height, and when that controversy cropped up at every conceivable opportunity, differences of opinion were hejd with the fervour of religious beand on many occasions following hot debates lasting into the early hours, he had found himself involved in a continuation of the argument as members and pressmen walked home. Tlfe licensing, question also loomed lprge, and here again the differences of opinion were most vehemently expressed! New Zealand’s licensing laws were gradually evolved under those conditions, and for many years there hnd been no imdicnl change in them. ’• ‘The House appeared to do a small amount of business Jti a very long time it would spend many hours wrangling’ oyer the cost of raising loons, the differ eiide sometimes being about ninepejloe per cent,, and the actual rate of interest only 8-J-, while air the seven figures of a million sterling were regarded. at full value in marked contrast tp present day conditions when millions were discussed in halt-dozens. Mr Wheeler recalled that on his first association with members of Parliament, he gaineu the impression that they had tlie “superority complex” towards pressmen, but gradually there came a realisation to the politician that publicity was life. With' the growing and widening circulation of daily , newspapers the platform had become less important than the printed word conveying the daily message. Consequently' members; looked to the Press Gallery td present a fair and adequate picture to. what happened in Parliament. They sometimes complained that they were not fully reported, or that certain features were given more prominefice; than they deserved. He would ask the Parliamentarians present whether they were not prepared to admit that pressmen frequently rendered great service to members of the House ,bj/ refraining from publishing some of the .wearisome drivel which they had to endure for hours on end. ” Parliamentary pressmen endeavoured thoroughly to understand all the problems Which Parliament had to handle and thus, to work with members for mutual advantage. He believed the standing of pressmen with members was much higher, to-day than when lie first entered the Press Gallery, though it was a curious thing about our democratic Porliaipent that it imposed more limitations ' upon the working pressmen than the allegedly conservative House of Commons, INCREASED PACE OF WORK. Mr Wheeler repeated his contention that Parliamentary pressmen aimed at presenting a fair and adequate picture of Parliamentary proceedings, and stated that in his twenty-five years’ experience in the Gallery representing simultaneously, a large number of news papers with varied political views,, he had only once received ail editorial instruction to be partisan in his reports. This led to a heated correspondence between himself and the editor, in which he got the last word, “ I regret to find that you are neither a journalist nor a gentleman.” Long association with Parliament had deepened his respect for it. The pace of its work had increased, and its responsibiities and its resources had extended. He believed there was a further field of development, because the community was demanding more and more of Parliament that it should deal with great social responsibilities. The personnel of Parliament had improved during his experience. He remembered the time when the chronic drunkard in the lobbies were tolerated in good-humoured fashion, but that phase happily had long ago disappeared,, nml he recalled a tribute to the personal standing of members paid by the late Rt. Hon W. F. Massey, every word of which was true, though, Mr Wheeler added with a smile, some people might have said at the time that Mr Massey’s testimonial might have gained in enthusiasm from the fact that that Parliament was providing him with an excelent working majority.
In conclusion, Mr Wheeler referred to the many changes in the personnel of the Press, Gallery, a change which newspaper proprietors themselves often deplored though it was due to an actual virtue. Journalists who made good in Parliamentary work proved their qualifications for still higher responsibilty, and right throughout the Dominion could be found ex-Gallery members managing or editing the most important of the Dominion’s newspaper. He also recalled that the famous David Lowe, the world’s highestsalaried cartoonist, once worked with him in the Press Gallery, contributing to a now defunct weekly newspaper a page of sketches illustrating funny paragraphs which it was the speaker’s duty to provide.
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Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1930, Page 2
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820PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1930, Page 2
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