THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 531, 11 June 1909, Page 4

THE HOUSE.

::(:, election of speaker. , AVhon members had assembled in the House-' yesterday . .morning, the Clerk (Mr.iOfcterson) mado two. announcements. First, of all,.- lie,- reported . that' ! Mr. M'Gowan '-had as mombor for ithoThameSi- and'that Mr.- Taylor had been elected in his stead. Then he reported tho death'of Jlr. Hone Heke, member" for : thd':Northorn Maori-district, and the election of To Rangihiroa (Dr. Buck) to fill the vacancy.'' ". '<; >";;-'■ '• "■■ ';■ • : • Tho swearing-in of members was then proceeded with. 'Members wore called upon to take'the necessary oath in batches ot four. Thaso proceedings occupied close upon half an: hour. The. only .absentees wero: -Sir William Steward, who' is on a holiday trip abroad, Mr T. E. Taylor, who has returned l.to'Christchuroh; and-Mr. Kaibau. ['.'. THE HON.- T; .Y.. DUNCAN (Oamaru)

said it gave him very great pleasure to nom'-' mato tho Hon. A. Si. Guinness, member for Grey, for tho position of Speaker. Mr. Guinness had, he said, been a member of tho Houso for very ,many years. For many years ho filled the offico of Chairman of Committees with honour. ' Then, during the last two Parliaments, he had occupied tho position of Speaker -in a very able' manner. ME. HANAN (Invercargill), in seconding tho proposal, pointed out that Mr. Guinness had lieen a member of the House for twentyfive years, was Chairman of Committees for eleven years, and during the preceding two Parliaments had discharged the onerous duties of Speaker with impartiality, ability, tact, and becoming dignity. The manner in which Mr. Guinness had always' controlled debates and interpreted standing "orders had given general satisfaction. Ho might remind members tluit tho Parliament of New Zealand enjoyed an enviable reputation for decorum and good order. If Mr._ Guinness were again elected, the best traditions would he felt,'be sure to bo maintained.: ■•'' • . '.MR. GUINNESS, upon having ■been made that there was no other nomination, said:. ' "I. gratefully acknowledge the honour : which is about to be conferred upon me. : The office of' Speaker is tho highest gift ■in the power of members, and I appreciate tho responsibilities, which it entails. .:I. will try sedulously to fill the office with . credit, treating all courteously and . knowing .'no distinction of party. That ;I will always receive the most generous : ;support,of members I feel certain." (Ap- , plause.) ■ 'Having been duly .installed as Speaker, Mr. Guinness,said it would be his desire to hold the balance between the parties with tho utmost impartiality, and administer the rules so that all parties would have fair treatment. Ho would do his best to soften any asperities that might arise. He trusted that all members, especially' the ' new ones, would.avail themselves of any information he could give them to enable them to carry' on" their duties. (Applause.) -.-'•' The FHIME MINISTER congratulated, Mr.' Guinness upon having again been elected to the office. Sometimes when feeling 'ran high coolness and firmness on the part' of' 'the rker were very requisite.. He felt sure that Guinness would again fill the office with great .credit—'and to assist to secure a continuancoof that good name which had always been a.bright feature of.the House. (Applause.) In conclusion, Sir Joseph remarked that as Leader of the House, it would be his duty to support tho Speaker in seeing that the Chair was respected and its rulings obeyed. Even ifmembers thought a-ruling was wrong they should, ho said; obey it.' Sir Joseph wished tho Speaker good health and strength during ,the term of his office. (Loud applause.) . MR. W. P. MASSEY (Leader of the Opposition) added-his congratulations to those which Mr. Gnihness had received from.,tho Prime Minister. He had, he. continued, expressed the hope at .the end. of the previous sassion that Mr. Guinness would; be" with' them this, session to rule over the proceedings. Therefore he felt, very pleased that his wish, had been \ gratified.. Ho felt confident that during the present -session Mr. Guinness would preside over their deliberations with tho samo firmness, dignity, and impartiality whioh ho had displayed during his previous terms of offico. (Loud applause.) _TJpon th© motion of, tho Prime Minister the Houso.then adjourned until 3.30 to enable Mr. Guinness to submit himself for the acceptation of his Excellency the Governor." THE TIMBER COMMISSION. -PROBABLE HOURS OF SITTING. 1 The House of 'Representatives met again- imrnediiitely,after the deUvery of tho Governor's Speech in the afternoon. ". ''i\ The Speaker made formal announcement of his appointment. • ! The' PRIME MINISTER moved that the Timber .Cominission,-, which includes members of Parliamept, should .bo granted permission to sit.'during the session of tho House. , Tho SPEAKER .thought that, tho motion was not necessary. ' The PRIME MINISTER said he had been told there was a doubt about it. Ho wanted to have the commission extended beyond the sitting of Parliament. •' . . . >~MR. ,MASSEY..'said.;there .could ba, no objection to an extension of time," as 'evidently the commision had not finished their labours. Ho would like to know if there was any probability of the commission's work being finished during the session. ; The_ PRIME MINISTER replied that the commission had still to go into the mass of evidence taken, and frame, their report. He was informed. that they could not do that within the present session. , ..... <,- -. The motion, slightly modified: in form, was adopted. ' . EXPIRING LAWS CONTINUANCE BILL. ; The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill was, introduced and passed its first Teading. SHIPPINC AND SEAMEN'S ACT. . The SPEAKER announced .that he had received a proclamation notifying the Royal assent to the Shipping and Seamen's Act. THE LATE, MB. HONE HEKE. Tho PRIME MINISTER moved a motion that tho Houso recorded its regret at the loss by death, of the faithful services of Mr. Hone Heke, member for the Northern Maori District, and 'respectfully tendered to his relatives an assurance of its sincere sympathy in their irreparable loss. Mr. Heke, said the Prime Minister, was not only a polished Maori :gentloman, but he was/able to take part in-English'in any of the'business that came before tho House as well, tho speaker thought,.as_any of his fellow {members. He had a pleasing personality, ho was identified with the Young Maori party, and he always worked for what he believed to bo the truest interests of the' Native race. They deeply deplored the fact tihat the face of Mr. Hone Heke, who was so much esteemed by all of them, would not be seen again. , ;MR. ( MASSEY/ in seconding tho motion, said that no member of the House had known Mr. Heko longer, or esteemed him more, than ho did. . Thongh, like'all other men, Mr. Heke had his failings, he was a rangatira, a gentleman, all tho time. He seemed to have .a presentiment that_ he.would not return to Parliament this session, for, speaking on an important provision in the Native Land Bill at the close of last sossion, ho said, "I hope that next session the Nativo Minister and my friend and colleague, Mr. Ngata, will see that it is necessary to bo embodied in our statutes." There was no suggestion that Mr. Hoke himself would be present to assist them. During his publio career Mr. Heke did specially good work for both the Europeans and Natives, and when there; was troubla with the Hokianga Maoris on the subject of the dog tax his influence certainly saved bloodshed and probably very serious : trouble. His last word in regard to Mr. Heke would be, "Peace to his ashes, honour to his momq-ry." •" ■ ■' . . MR. PARATA (Southern Maoris) said that he spoko' with deep sorrow on the motion. Mr. Heke was a man of great ability, and he did all in hispower to assist and uplift the Maori people. Ho was sure that in To Rangihiroa (Dr. Buck), Mr. Heke would have a worthy successor. ■ MR. HERRIBS (Bay of Plenty) said that Mr. Heke was in every way tho true gentleman, and he had suoh an engaging personality that however much ono differed from him, one could not bo. angry with him. He never knew an instance of his neglecting the interests of his constituents'or going against 'their interests. TE RANGIHIROA (Dr. Buck) returned thanks on behalf- of Mr. Heke's tribo for tho sympathy that had been shown. He emphasised the late member's services as a peacemakers Tho Maoris believed that Death came in its own canoe from Hawaiki, and went from one settlement to anothor.Death's cajioa had taken Mr. Heko to the bourne from which no traveller returned. Peace to the departed! Tho PRLME MINISTER moved at 5.10 p.m. that the House adjourn out of. respect to tho memory of Mr. Hone Heko until 10.30 a.m. to-day. '. hoOrs of sittinc. MR. MASSEY roso to ask what was proposed regarding hours of sitting. A majority of members of the House, ho said, had practically agreed to tho business of tho House' being postponed for tihroo niorethsor thereTho responsibility for that action was theirs; he hod nothing to do with thai,

but- he' suggested that the business of thai short session should be done decently and in order, that everything that required discussion should be discussed properly, and no attempt Ehould be made to keep members in their places until all hours of the morning. If tho House was going to meet at 10.30 a.m., he asked when it was proposed that they should adjourn. . The PRIME MINISTER replied that a majority of the House had decided as Mr. Massoy said, and he supposed that the spirit of their decision would be followed. The Government would put its proposals clearly to the House, and it ww not intended to askmembers to sit an late at night. Mr. Massey: What do you call late? The Prime Minister: Wo should adjourn by eleven or twc-Iva at the outside Mr. Massey: Wq can't sit till eleven or -run • W0 moet at 10 ' 30 a - m - ' Tho Prune Minister said the desire was to nso about 11 o'clock, but it was not always possible to arrange tho time to half an hour. The Prime Minister's motion was carried, and the House then rose.