RIGHTS OF PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 289, 6 December 1928, Page 18

RIGHTS OF PARLIAMENT.

CLAIMED FROM THE KING. AN INTERESTING CEREMONY. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. One of the formalities of a new Parliament was carried out to-day, when the Speaker, having been reappointed by the House of Representatives, was escorted to Governemnt House by his proposer and seconder and a number of other members for the purpose of securing the approval of their choice by the King's representative. Herein is "the survival of an ancient practice which can be traced back, to the contests between King and Parliament for independence, the actual phrases used to-day being reminiscent of this controversy. When Sir Charles Statham was submitted for the approval of his Excellency the latter signified his agreement with the choice of the House, whereupon Mr. Speaker was required to declare, "Thanking your Excellency for your approbation of the choice made by the House of Representatives of me to be their Speaker I have now, on behalf of the House of Representatives of New Zealand to lay claim to all their privileges, and especially to freedom of speech in debate, and to free access to your Excellency whenever occasion may require it, and that tne most favourable construction may be put on all their proceedings." •vr S - ir . , Charles Fergusson, as His Majesty s representative, gave the re assuring answer, "I, on behalf of the * A' c ° nfirm all ri £hts and privileges of the House of Representatives to the same extent as they have been granted hitherto. I also assure you that the House of Representatives will always Have ready access to me, and that I will at all times place the most favourable construction upon their proceedings." r Probably members when they assembled this afternoon allowed all these assurances to pass without much thought of their significance, but Sir Charles Statham, as custodian of the liberties of Parliament, was careful to repeat them from the chair, and to have them put on record.