Memories from the 1960s

I’ve remembered a few people and incidents about MPs and staff from my time at WGA in 1964:

* Sir Leslie Munro discovered by the reference staff fast asleep in the members’ writing room after the House had a couple of late night sittings.

* Warren Freer shouting down the corridor to Jim Wilson the Chief Librarian, ‘Have you got Fanny Hill?” (Note that the library used to receive banned books awaiting decisions of the Indecent Publications Tribunal).

* Roy Jack (later Sir Roy, Speaker of the House) playing the violin at a drinks session in his room. He was known by some as Jack and his Fiddle.   

* A staff member that was fond of eating weird tropical fruit at staff morning tea. There were a number of single women including Virginia who was known for having the best legs in Parliament buildings.

*We were sometimes invited for drinks in member’s rooms. One who was friendly was Doug Carter, member for a Waikato seat. In that era of 6 o’clock closing it was quite fun going to drink Bellamy’s sherry after hours, occasionally interrupted when the division bells rang.  

That’s all.

Julia Millen

Strange beginnings and memorable endings

 

I began working at the General Assembly Library in early 1980. On my second day I was informed there was to be a stop work meeting for the Clerical Workers Union that afternoon. With no-one left to advise me what to do I tagged along to St Andrews on the Terrace. It was a very hot summer afternoon, completely crowded and with standing room only. At the end of the meeting we were told not to go back to work, so we didn’t. Those were the days – some would say.

Most memorable farewell was for the head of the Profile service. In jest someone suggested a singing telegram as they were very popular at the time. The idea took on a life of its own. The highlight of the farewell was the arrival of two larger size women in a very small pink car. The ‘telegram’ (based on information supplied by Library staff) was taken in good heart by the recipient – thank goodness!

 

Memories from the 1950s

The heavy canvas-bound accession volumes

 

I joined the staff at the beginning of 1953 as a 17year-old straight from College. I was ‘the Accessioner’ in the Catalogue Department which was upstairs in the corner room facing Hill Street.  I recorded all books in huge and very heavy ledger books which was fine for the new books but when I had to alter information on books in earlier volumes it was difficult to lift them down from the shelf.  Soon after I started I had to accession The Kinsey Report. I remember being constantly watched by the chief cataloguer to make sure I didn’t read anything that would harm my supposed innocence!  I  progressed to typing catalogue cards and of course filing them in the catalogue downstairs.  Eventually I went downstairs and did all the ordering of new books.

My six years working in the General Assembly Library were very happy ones.

 

My best wishes

Margaret Beauchamp (Mead)

 

Calling former WGA staff

The plans for the 150^th celebrations are progressing. Nearly 140 former staff have registered with the Library to receive information about the activities. If you are a former staff member and want to join us please contact the Library 150^th project group. Go to the about page on the blog to find the email contact address.

Zappo weaves his magic

The Library Social Committee recently organised a magical family night with Zappo the magician. Staff and their families were thrilled and amazed as a space robot materialised, a green alien visited, and a magical wand achieved the unimaginable. Highlights included a staff member being fitted with a space helmet that had an amazing and unbelievable result, and a friendly space bunny letting everyone pat it.