17 SEPTEMBER 1921, Page 23

The Pageant of Parliament. By Michael MacDonagh.

Fisher Unvvin. 2 vole. 36e. net.)—Mr. MacDonagh, who has had many years' experience in the Press Gallery, endeavours " to describe Parliament doing its work as a living organization." He begins with the method of election, the opening of Parlia- ment, the formation of a Ministry, and the debate on the Address, and goes on to deal with a typical debate on an important Bill. Then he _goes to the House of Lords and explains the functions of the Lord Chancellor and of the House in its judicial capacity. In other chapters he discusses the procedure on Money Bills, the Houses during the war, the Chiltern Hundreds, and a dissolu- tion. Mr. MacDonagh abounds in entertaining anecdotes, and his book supplements on the side of custom and tradition -the regular •constitutional text-books.