Carter David: AdjournmentText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCarter David: Adjournment[Sitting date: 10 December 2014. Volume:702;Page:1362. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Mr SPEAKER: Honourable members I know I stand—literally—between you and your Christmas break so I will contain my excitement and make a brief contribution.As other members before me have done I also want to thank all of those who work in this place and make it work for us. So the messengers Brent Smith as the Serjeant-at-Arms the telephonists the cleaners the receptionists travel office staff catering staff library staff VIP drivers Hansard and select committee staff and our own staff both here in our offices in Wellington and in our electorate offices—these are the people who make it possible for us to do our job. These are the people who are absolutely fundamental to the functioning of democracy.To Mary Harris Clerk of the House and her team and particularly Andie Lindsay a huge thankyou to you. Mary this will be your last adjournment debate. Your leaving this House next year will create a huge challenge for us. I know at that time there will be ample opportunity for members to acknowledge the huge contribution that Mary has made to our Parliament.To my own office staff—to Lisa to Roland and to Oliver—thank you for all that you do for me. Each day they manage to bring some sanity to a day where issues start through that day that we had not perceived might occur.As we adjourn this particular 51st Parliament for the Christmas break I also want to acknowledge the cooperation I have received from all members of this House. To date not one member has been asked to leave the Chamber. That could be because behaviour has improved it could be because my patience has improved or it could be because one particular member who has the record in the time that I have been in this House of being thrown out the most has actually joined the presiding officers team. I am of course referring to the Hon Trevor Mallard. I want to welcome you to that team Trevor. You have shown an exemplary knowledge of the Standing Orders and have been a real asset to that team so thank you. I also want to acknowledge my Deputy Speaker the Hon Chester Borrows. Welcome to the team. Again you have settled into your new role and are a real asset to it. And of course to my travelling companion Lindsay Tisch thank you for continuing in this role.To all members the role of a presiding officer is a challenge but it is one that if it is operated correctly makes a huge difference to how the democracy of New Zealand works. For the record subsequent to the opening of the 51st Parliament we have sat for 18 days including 7¼ hours of urgency. There have been 15 Government bills passed and 212 oral questions with an additional 771 supplementary questions asked and answered—although I do acknowledge that some members may not feel that the answers given to their questions have been satisfactory and I have on occasion attempted to keep the peace and given the odd additional supplementary question.So finally to all members I wish you a very enjoyable Christmas break. Enjoy that special time that we have with our families for when we return in the new year I am sure there is plenty to be done.Motion agreed to.