Insasntly Parliament.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 29 May 1914, Page 2

Insasntly Parliament.

jp (Contributed.) Those who took part in the Mock Parliament last year will be pleased at the hopeful outlook for the 1914 sessions. Tile meeting held on Monday last was not so well attended as was anticipated, but this was due to particularly adverse circumstances, the weather being bad, and several other meetings being held on the same evening. Last year’s enthusiasm, nevertheless, does not appear to have by any ireans subsided. Many who participated in the fun of the first Parliament are looking eagerly forward to this year’s sessions, whilst several who held aloof last winter, or who have since come to reside in Huntly, have expressed a willingness to become members. The fact, too, that this is election year will no doubt be responsible for a general revival of political enthusiasm which cannot fail to manifest itself in the local parliament,and may be expected to lend a degree- of keenness to the debates that should make them more interesting and amusing even than last year. The Mock Parliament is an in-

stitution to be encouraged. Debating societies of all kinds are capable of doing a considerable amount of good, affording as they do excellent training in the art of public speaking, a certain degree of proficiency in which, at some time or other, proves of great service to almost every man. The Mock Parliament, v\hilst possessing all the merits of an ordinary Debating So aety, does still more. It arouses a genuine interest in political and even municipal matters that should commend it to every community that professes to be ambitious as regards the prosperity of its township or district. It also imparts in a manner that debating clubs could never do a familiarity with that form and procedure that must be respected in the conduct of meetings of any kind whatever. As a form of amusement both for those who take an active part in the discussions and for th - many who atte.id as silent members the Parliament would be hard to surpass. Let us hope, ihen, if for its educational merits alone, that the Mock Parliame t has come to stay as a winter institution in, Huntly.