The Scene Changes

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 515, 19 November 1928, Page 8

The Scene Changes

ADJUSTMENTS IN THE HOUSE Mr. Coates Across the Way ( Writtcn for THE S U JY ) LONG association of ideas gives the Ministerial benches in the House of Representatives an air of dignity and prestige. The Prime Minister’s bench is no different from any other, yet it might almost be a throne. Because of this, old hands in the Press gallery love to recall the dramatic moments of 1912, when the Ward Government evacuated the privileged quarters it had occupied so long. The reshuffle seemed to alter the whole aspect of the Chamber.

JUNIOR members of the Press Gallery, hearing these fine tales, were wont in recent sessions to wish that a parallel cataclysm might come to pass. It was pleasant, leaning over the broad writing-bench from which an incautious scribe once dropped a grcfit pile of manuscript, littering the floor below -with scattered papers, to speculate on how Mr. Coates would look when viewed from another angle. A big majority in the House is unproductive for the Press correspondent, and "ETk % % ar# as as »&& 3*

Parliament in recent years has been anything but dramatic. But now the realisation of the fond Imaginings is at hand. Assuming first that the United Party will go into power, supported by its independent auxiliaries, and faced across the chamber by the mutilated remnant of the Reform Party—such a rearrangement will involve a drastic change in the appearance of the chamber as it has become familiar to regular observers in recent years. ABSENT FAMILIARS No more—at least, not for a time — will the Hon. A. D. McLeod bark across the chamber at Mr. J. A. Lee. The great political leveller has reduced this belligerent twain by a common stroke of adversity. Mr. Coates, instead of sitting at the vital spot in the chamber, with a dispatch box in front of him and a battery of bells beside his hand, will be exactly opposite—not twelve feet away; but how different in status! Should he want something, he will not be able to press a button

for a secretary, but will have to snap his fingers for a messenger. Mr. Downie Stewart will presumably be the new first lieutenant to the Opposition Leader. As such, he will occupy the place long held by Mr. Peter Fraser. The pair will miss the frequent chuckle of Mr. J. S. Dickson, Senior Whip of long standing, who always had the seat exactly behind Mr. Coates. The Opposition, with its 28 members and an active attack to maintain, will want a good whip. Who it will be is not clear. Mr. Bitchener, the Junior Whip, lacks experience, and Mr. W. S. Glenn, the other experienced whip, is among the fallen. Probably it will be a good job for the Hon. R. A. Wright, Minister of Education.

Incidentally, the United Party, with its fireat tide of new members, and its bare handful of experienced men, will have still greater difficulties to encounter. Parliamentary forms are baffling to the newcomer, and few of the United group have had the usual long training in opposition. Reform’s 28 members will occupy all the immediate Opposition quarter, with its 24 benches, and four more seats beside. This means that the last Reform benches will be those lately occupied by Mr. T. K. Sidey and Sir Apirana Ngata. LABOUR’S NEW HOME

Moving from the left, the Labour benches will then begin, probably with Mr. Holland and Mr. Fraser, still bench-mates, in the front seats vacated by M,r. J. Mason and Mr. H. M. Campbell. The Labour members will overflow across the middle aisle, and Labour will thus occupy nearly all the cross-benches. Such of the Independents as do not definitely join fhe United camp, will be at the flank of the United phalanx, which will extend down the right-hand side of the Chamber to the Ministerial benches Sir Joseph Ward, though dapper and well-groomed, as Mr| Coates is, will yet be a contrast with the Reform leader. On account of his age, he is slow of movement, whereas Mr. Coates is quick and alert. Mr. Coates will, however, no longer be able to exercise his practice of taking a stroll up and down the middle of the floor.

New faces will appear on the Ministerial benches. There will be the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, and the Hon. T. M. Wilford. Since only six of the United Party are old members, and new members, failing reinforcements from over the way, will have to he called on to fill Cabinet places, there may even be the Hon. J. B. Donald, the Hon. J. S. Fletcher, or the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy. The definite United-Labour alliance to oust the Government on a noconfidence motion precludes any possibility that Reform, even if it gain more seats, may attempt to carry on. Thus the general prospect is wide and entertaining, and there will be some high lights in discussion and procedure when Parliament again assembles. J.G.M. (Press Gallery).