THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17634, 11 December 1922, Page 8

THE SPEAKERSHIP.

TO THE EDITOR OF ''THE PBESS." Sir, —New Zealand's political history has, from a personal aspect, been repeated in a very remarkable manner. Two men holding official positions in connexion with the conduct of the business of the House of Representatives were defeated in the election of 1830. Like misfortune overtook the two men who held the same positions, respectively, in the past Parliament. Thirty-two years ago Sir Maurice O'Eorke, then Speaker of the House, was beaten for Manakau. Now Sir Frederick Lang, exSpeaker and ex-membor f'pr Manakau (as was Sir Maurice: strange double coincidence!) also suffers defeat. In the same year (1890) Mr A, P. Sej-mour, who was' Chairman of Committees in the previous Parliament, was beaten for Wairau by Mr T. L. Buick. This year, Mr Malcolm, ex-Chairman of Committees, is defeated for Clutha! Rather, I submit, a strangely peculiar set of circumstances. The absence from the House of that "fine old English gentleman," Sir Frederick Lang, opens the way for the Prime Minister to> d'o a graceful and decidedly diplomatic act, and, at the same time, signal sen-ice to Parliament. Could he induce Mr T. M. Wilford to accept the Speakership, he would be the medium of placing in "the chair" the best-fitted representative in the present Parliament for that position. My advocacy of his election to the Speakership is based entirely upon firm conviction, from observation, that he would '"adorn the office," and prove as successful in it as were past occupants of the Speaker's chair. Mr Wilford proved himself to bo the best Cliairman of Committees we have had for, about, a quarter of a century. He possesses an intimate acquaintance with. May, has Parliamentary 'procedure at his finger-tips, so to speak, his bearing is marked with dignity, and he would command the respect and confidence of the whole House. Highly oommend.ible, therefore, would be the Prime Minister's adoption of the course suggested. It would exhibit him rising far above mere party considerations, and, beyond all, demonstrating without question that one of his aims is to place in office "the best equipped man" obtainable for any and every position within his power. It would ha * master-stroke.

mating the exigencies of party erabservient to doing something equalling (if not surpassing) in importance the diploriiatio course adopted by the late Mr Seddon in appointing Sir Kobert Stout to the Chief Justiceship—a selection redounding to the credit of the deceased Prime Minister, whose wisdom in the matter has been fully justified in Sin Robert's brilliant careen at the head of the Bench of Judges in New Zealand. Fully persuaded am I in again advocating "a. course I journalistically urged some years ago—during the Liberal regime May the Dominion be fortunate enc;igh to get the best men obtainable to fill every public position, political arJ official, in which case Mr Wilford's enaction to the Speakership of the House will be a. widely welcomed example.—Yours, etc., G.R.