ANCIENT CEREMONIAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1941, Page 6

ANCIENT CEREMONIAL

IN TEMPORARY HOME MEETING OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. MOVE BACK TO WESTMINSTER POSSIBLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, May 13. With its ancient ceremonial observed in every detail, the House of Commons assembled'in a new home, the provision of which was made necessary by the damage caused on Saturday night to the Debating Chamber. Preceded by the Mace, which had been rescued, Mr Speaker led a procession to prayers and mounted his Chair —a replica of that burned in the fire. The new Chamber has its rows of benches and there is a “bar” to the Chamber, around which members assembled. Mr Winston Churchill announced that the old House of Commons had been damaged beyond repair for a long time to come. They had already begun active preparation of a third building, in case anything should happen to the one in which they were now meeting. In reply to Mr J. Maxton (1.L.P., Bridgetown), who asked if it were not a fact that a considerable part of the Palace of Westminster remained undamaged and if it were now possible to find accommodation for sittings of the House of Commons even in the House of Peers, Mr Churchill said the question of using the Lords Chamber alternately for the Lords and the Commons would be considered.