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ferable" and "non-transferable." Aits narrow and confined dimensions. transferable ticket may be used by any In front of it and overlooking the member of the staff of the newspaper chamber, are twenty-nine boxes, each for whom it is issued; but the non- just affording sitting room for one pertransferable ticket can be used only by son. Behind, against the carved oak the journalist whose name it contains. screen running right round the gallery, The non-transferable tickets are in this and separated from the boxes by a narform: row gangway only, is a raised bench with a ledge in front for the purposes of writing. Not more than eighty journalists can be accommodated in the gallery, between the boxes, the bench and some standing room in the corners, so that on nights of interest and importance the gallery becomes, indeed, 'a congested district."

REPORTERS' GALLERY,

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Not Transferable.

SESSION 1895.

MR. WILLIAM GOVAN,

The Daily Mercury.

H. D. ERSKINE.

Well, armed with this piece of cardboard, we are allowed to pass through the outer gates of Palace Yard by the vigilant policemen on duty there; and from the cloisters of Palace Yard we ascend by a spiral staircase to the wing of the Houses of Parliament set apart for the accommodation of the members of the reporters' gallery.

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The boxes which, of course, are better situated than the bench behind for seeing and hearing what is going on below on the floor of the House, are allotted to the exclusive use of certain London and provincial journals and news agencies. The Times has got three of the boxes in the very centre, and therefore in the best position in the gallery. One is for the use of its reporting staff, another for the chief of the staff, and the third for the writer of its Parliamentary summary. The other London morning papers, the Chronicle, the Standard, the

Until this session access to the gallery was to be had only by one door, which was in the centre. Last session a strong representation as to the diffi- Daily culties of entrance and exit on busy Daily News, the Morning Post, the nights was made by the committee of Morning Advertiser, the Daily Telethe gallery to the first commissioner of graph, have each a box for the reworks, and as a result the centre door porters, and another each for their was built up, and two doors one at summary-writers or the chiefs of their each end- were opened in the gallery staffs. Two of the metropolitan evenduring the recess. Inside the gallery ing papers, and two only, enjoy a sits Mr. Woodcraft, the principal gal-share, but only a share, in a box. The lery attendant, whose easy duty it is to Pall Mall Gazette has the use of a box preserve order and decorum amongst till six o'clock, when Reuter, the forits occupants. He is in evening dress eign news agency, gets possession, and and wears across his breast the badge the Globe divides in like manner the which distinguishes all the attendants accommodation of a box with the sumin the House-a brass chain with a mary-writer of the Morning Advertiser. figure of Mercury attached. If it be The Press Association and the Central our first appearance for the session, News, the two chief news agencies, our credentials from the serjeant-at- have each got two boxes for their rearms must be produced for inspection porting staffs and summary-writers; by Mr. Woodcraft. But you are rarely and there is also a box for the Parliaasked again during the session to show mentary debates' staff. Amongst the your credentials if you are the holder provincial papers, the Scotsman (Edinof a non-transferable ticket. The first burgh), the Glasgow Herald, the Freeimpression one gets of the gallery is man's Journal (Dublin), and the

Manchester Guardian alone have the it must be also borne in mind that a exclusive use of boxes. Important pro- speech by a local member on a local vincial papers like the Yorkshire Post, matter frequently transcends in interthe Liverpool Courier, the Liverpool est and importance to local readers Post, the Birmingham Daily Post, the even the most eloquent pronouncement Manchester Courier, the Leeds Mercury, on some subject of imperial concern by the Bradford Observer, the Dundee Ad- a prime minister. The London jourvertiser, the Irish Times, the Glasgow nals are in a different position. They Daily Mail, the South Wales Daily have no "local members " to look News, the Newcastle Chronicle, etc., after. They are indifferent to the have to share between them the few representative of Bow and Bromley, or remaining boxes. This is done by two of Kensington, as such; and in reportor three of the Liberal papers, or two ing Parliament they are guided solely or three of the Conservative papers, by the space at their command, and combining together and employing a the nature of the proceedings. special staff to report "local members -members sitting for constituencies within the district covered by each paper-special attention, of course, being given to Liberal members by the Liberal papers, and to Conservative members by Conservative papers, the remainder of the report being supplied by the Press Association or the Central News.

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It is a common complaint of the provincial press that undue representation has been given to the London journals in the distribution of boxes and seats in the reporters' gallery. It is said “Why should the Times have three boxes, and why should the other London papers have two boxes each, when not one of the daily newspapers of important provincial centres like Liverpool, BirmingThe provincial morning papers who ham, Leeds, Newcastle, Cardiff, has a have not special representatives in the box for its own exclusive use?" The gallery get their reports from one or existing allotment of seats took place other of the news agencies. These re- many years ago, when perhaps the ports are of three classes-the "sum- provincial press lagged far behind the mary," a continuous but summarized London press. Now, however, the report of the proceedings; "specials," daily newspapers of our large provin – consisting of full and first-person re- cial towns occupy, by right of their ports of ministers, aud ex-ministers of enterprise and ability, positions not importance; and "locals," or reports inferior to the metropolitan journals; of local members done specially for and they report Parliament at as great local papers. These three separate and length as any of the London papers, distinct reports of the proceedings in save the Times, while they have to Parliament are often delivered, by tele- bear the heavy expense, from which graph, of course, to a newspaper in the the metropolitan papers are free, of provinces during the night, and with nightly telegraphing these reports to the aid of scissors and paste are ar- their publishing offices in the country. ranged in order, as one coherent and The foreign press correspondents in complete report by the sub-editor. London also complain —and, I think, The length at which the Parliamentary complain with great justice of their speeches of local members, particularly total exclusion from the gallery, though on local matters, are given in provincial the correspondents of London newsjournals, while distinguished statesmen papers are afforded the fullest facilities like Sir William Harcourt and Mr. for the discharge of their functions in Balfour are often put into a few lines all the legislative assemblies on the in the same report, must have occa- Continent. The only representative of sionally puzzled newspaper readers. The arrangement I have described will throw some light on the mystery. But

the foreign press in the gallery of the House of Commons is Reuter's agency. But the truth is, the authorities of the

Here is a specimen :

Staff.

Mr. Ponsonby

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Robinson

Rowland.

House, Mr. Speaker, and the serjeant- | members of the staff in regular rotaat-arms, are naturally reluctant to make tion. any innovation which would either disturb long-existing privileges, or increase the already undue pressure on the accommodation in the gallery; and until the House itself deems it a matter in which it might becomingly interest itself and passes a "Redistribution of Seats Bill" for the gallery, the present condition of things will probably be allowed to continue.

Salter

Macauley
Smith

Williams.
Reynolds

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Wright

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Mr. Ponsonby is due again at 7 o'clock,
Mr. Robinson at 7.15, and so on, so

The seats on the back bench, which, as I have already said, do not command a full view of the House, are not reserved. They are used, as a rule, by descriptive writers, London correspondents, and leader-writers, who take notes of the salient points of important speeches, or watch for interesting that each member of the staff gets incidents or material of any kind for more than three clear hours to trangraphic and spicy paragraphs; and by scribe his quarter of an hour of shortartists and caricaturists on the lookout hand notes into long-hand, unless some for characteristic attitudes and facial of the reporters are required in the expressions of the leading Parliamen- Lords, when, of course, the time betarians. In the normal condition of things there is no difficulty in getting a seat on this bench; but on interesting occasions, when a big bill is about to be introduced, or an important speech to be delivered, you have to come down early to secure a place there.

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Let us see, now, how the reporters work. We will take the Times staff for the purposes of illustration. The staff formerly consisted of at least thirteen reporters and the chief, but as the Times has now undertaken to supply the report to Messrs. Waterlow, the printers and publishers of the Parliamentary debates popularly known as "Hansard," the staff has been increased by three additional reporters. The average strength of the staffs of the other London papers is eight men. As a rule, they report the proceedings at only about half the length the Times gives to its splendid record, but they work on the same principles. At the opening of every sitting the chief of the staff who superintends the work draws up a list of quarter-hour "turns," which is followed by the

tween turns is not so long. If the debate is not of any great interest, a "turn" will occupy in transcription only an hour, or in some instances two hours, according to the standing of the speaker. But even if the member be Mr. Balfour, Mr. Asquith, Mr. Chamberlain, Sir William Harcourt, or any of the other party leaders, who are usually given verbatim and in the first person, the writing out of his notes will not take the reporter much more than two hours. Mr. Ponsonby's third "turn" comes at eleven o'clock. At ten o'clock the "turns" are shortened to ten minutes, at eleven to seven and a half minutes, and at midnight to five minutes, in order that the " "copy may be written up with all possible speed and despatched to the composing-room in Printing House Square. Mr. Ponsonby will, probably, have a fourth turn of seven and a half or of five minutes before the House adjourns between twelve and one o'clock; but the members of the staff towards the bottom of the list will have only three turns each. They make up for coming on late by getting off carly. The list,

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however, is changed every week. By which “ copy " tucked into "carriers "

a natural process of rotation, Mr. Robinson, who is second on the list this week, will next week open the proceedings, and be followed by Mr. Rowland and the others in the same order, while Mr. Ponsonby goes to the bottom of the list.

is transmitted to the provincial instrument-room at the Central Telegraph Office, a distance of two miles and a half from Westminster, in five minutes, and thence telegraphed all over the country. The compartment behind the gallery, and two rooms to the right and left, and another large compartment

sage, resound with the bustle of messenger boys, in the uniforms of the news agencies, and several London and provincial papers, carrying to and fro "copy" and writing materials for the reporters; the click, click of several "sounder" telegraph instruments, over which reports of the proceedings in the House are being transmitted to some of the London evening papers or to the London offices of provincial papers connected with the gallery by special wires; and the shouting of messages to other newspaper offices through telephones.

There is just one more point to ex-connected with the first by a short pasplain in connection with the list of turns. As each man writes out his turn he puts on every slip a number, "1" or "2" or "3," to indicate that it is his first, or second, or third turn. Thus Mr. Ponsonby writes on the top of his slips "1," "2," "3," etc.; and at the end of the turn writes, "Robinson follows." Mr. Robinson in like manner uses for his first turn the numeral "1" on his slips. As further guides to the compositors in "makingup" the report when it is put into type, Mr. Robinson begins his turn by stating that he has relieved Mr. Ponsonby, thus: "Robinson follows Ponsonby," and by also indicating who is Leaving this scene of bustle and exaddressing the House, thus: "Balfour citement, we mount a staircase and speaking." This is done right through find ourselves in a suite of apartments the report. It may seem to the outsider overlooking Palace Yard, and devoted an elaborate system of precaution; to the exclusive use of members of but such is the hurry and excitement the gallery as writing-out rooms and that prevail in the composing-room, recreation rooms. Two of the com-especially towards the hour when the mittee rooms overlooking the terrace paper has to be "put to bed," that and river are also appropriated to the this exceeding care is very needful to use of the journalists. All the rooms prevent "mixes"-such as portions are lighted with electric lights, and of Sir Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett's speech most of them are airy, commodious, being attributed to Mr. Labouchere, and comfortable. The four rooms and vice versâ — which, however amusing they may be to the newspaper reader, do not, to say the least, tend to the gaiety of the printing-office.

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used for writing are supplied with desks, chairs, and ink, pens, and blotting paper. One of them also contains a useful library, consisting of works of reference, volumes of the Parliamentary debates, blue-books, bills, and

When a reporter is relieved by a colleague at the end of his quarter of another Parliamentary papers; and in hour, he leaves the gallery and goes to another lovers of the weed may smoke one of the writing-out rooms to tran- while they are at work. These writscribe his notes. We will accompany ing-rooms are crowded during the him thither. Immediately outside the night with reporters transcribing their gallery is a large compartment contain-notes, and leader-writers, London coring a telegraph-office where press and respondents and writers of Parliamenprivate messages are received. This tary sketches spinning from their office is connected with St. Martin's-le- fertile and imaginative brains criticisms Grand by a pneumatic tube, through of speeches and policies, and descrip

speed does not frighten the reporter so much as muddled and incoherent ideas indistinctly expressed.

tions of scenes and incidents in the in style and manner. Statesmen like House. Well, in one of these rooms Bright and Disraeli and Gladstonethe reporter who has just been relieved to mention three who were masters of writes out his quarter of an hour's turn different styles of the fine art of oraat note-taking. If some obscure or tory-always spoke slowly, deliberunimportant honorable gentleman "ately and impressively, and the average spoke during the turn the task is very reporter never had any difficulty in easily and quickly discharged. But if taking them. But the style of speakit were Sir William Harcourt, Mr. Bal- ing popular nowadays in Parliament is four, Mr. Chamberlain, or any of the what is called "the conversational other great men of Parliament who are style " -a free and rapid flow of usually reported fully, the transcription words, which not infrequently taxes of the short-hand notes will, as I have all the reporter's skill and dexterity in already said, occupy an arduous and the use of "the winged art" to get trying hour, or an hour and a half them down on his note-book. But at least. In the case of an important speech four or six reporters who have been "on" during the same quarter of an hour write out together in order to ensure absolute accuracy. One of the Of all our leading Parliamentarians group reads out his notes as he tran- Mr. Chamberlain is the easiest to rescribes, and all the others, as they port. His average rate of speaking is write, practically, from his dictation, one hundred and forty words a minute, follow the narrative on their own notes, and, besides, he possesses, in the highand correct errors into which the reader est degree perhaps, the qualities of may have fallen, from one cause or lucidity of thought and distinctness of another. This practice is necessary for utterance. Mr. John Morley, Sir several reasons. For instance, some- George Trevelyan, Mr. Campbell-Bantimes it is difficult for all the reporters nerman, Mr. Goschen in the Commons, to hear a speaker distinctly. It may Lord Rosebery, Lord Salisbury, Lord be because of the right honorable Ashbourne, the Duke of Devonshire in member's imperfect articulation, or of the Lords, never present any difficulties the situation of the bench from which to the reporter, though none of them, he addresses the House. But though with perhaps the exception of Mr. all the reporters may not succeed in Campbell-Bannerman, is quite so easy transferring every word of the right to "take" as Mr. Chamberlain. Lord honorable gentleman to their note- Herschell and Lord Halsbury in the books, a group of four or six are Lords, Sir R. Webster, Mr. Matthews, certain unless the speaker was ex- and Mr. Fletcher Moulton in the Comceptionally indistinct to have, be- mons, are, like most lawyers, unpleastween them, a full and complete record ant speakers from the reporter's point of his utterance, and so by writing out of view. But comparing the occutogether and comparing each others' pants of the Treasury Bench, as a notes they can turn out a veritable pho- | whole, with the occupants of the front tographic reproduction of the speech Opposition Bench, as a whole, it must exactly as it was spoken.

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be said that the members of the government give the reporters the more The two qualities in a speaker which trouble and worry, both on account most delight the reporter are lucid of rapidity and indistinctness of exthinking and distinct utterance; and, pression. Mr. H. H. Fowler, introwhatever else they may lack, most of ducing the Franchise Bill and the the great Parliamentarians of the day Parish Councils Bill in the session of possess these two qualities. Old re- 1892, gave the reporters an exceedporters will tell you that public speakingly hard time of it. That, however, ing has undergone a complete revolution was due largely to the mass of statis

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