THE NEW BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1076, 15 March 1911, Page 3

THE NEW BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

MR. LOWTHER RE-ELECTED SPEAKER. AX IRISH MEMBER'S GRIEVANCE. The first Parliament of King George V. and the thirtieth of the United Kingdom uf Great Britain and Ireland met on Tuesday, January 31, although the formal opening by His Majesty does not take place till the following • Monday.

The Lord Chancellor at once requested the G'entleman-Usher of the Black Rod. Admiral Sir F. Stephenson, to proceed to the House of Commons to desire the attendance of members. In a short time, the Clerk of the House of Commons, SirCourtennyllbcrt, appeared at tlio liar, followed by a few members of the Commons. .

. The Lord Chancellor, addressing the members of the Houso of Commons, said: "We have it on command from His Majesty to let you know that his Majesty will, as soon as the 'members of botli Houses shall be sworn, declare the cause of his calling this. Parliament, and it heing necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons should be first chosen, it is his Majesty's pleasure that you gentlemen of the House of Commons repair to the place where you are. to sit, and there proceed to the choice of some proper person to be your Speaker, and that you present such person whom you shall s'o choose bore to-morrow at 12 o'clock for his Majesty's Royal approbation."

Elating the Speaker. On the return of the members of the Commons to their places, Sir Courtney Ilbert, the Clerk of the House, rose in his place at tho table, and, without speaking.'pointed at Mr. Eugene Wason, the veteran Liberal, and tho biggest man in tho House.

Mr.- YVason, who was received with general cheers, moved that "tho Right lion. James William Lowther do take the chair in this House as Speaker." This; he. said, was the fourth occasion upon which Mr. Lowther had been elected, to the .highest-honour which it

was in the power of that House to confer on any of its members. He had been a tried and trusted Speaker,, and they linen- that they could rely upon him to maintain the ancient traditions, privileges, and liberties of.that House, and to defend it from all assailants from whatever quarter they came. The right hoii. gentleman had, to quote Maeterlinck, "tho joy of heing just." (Cheers.)

Lord Claude Hamilton seconded the motion, and said that Mr. Lowther, by a sagacious mixture of dignity, firmness, and gentle persuasion, had' succeeded in firmly asserting the authority of the chair.

Mr. Cinnell's Protest. Mr. Lowthcr was about to return thanks when .Mr. Ginnell, a Nationalist member, said ho objected to being counted as even tacitly agreeing with propositions and compliments known to those who uttered them to bo unfounded, and undeserved. (Loiidcriea of "No, no," and "Withdraw.") I regret'(said Mr. Ginnell) to find it is my duty to introduce just' a little reality into proceedings which have been so delightfully unreal. At a time when many members are looking forward to this House undertaking the task of reforming another branch of the Legislature, it is desirablo that it should not perpetuate tho practice within its own, walls of vices which disqualify it for that task, that it should not expose itself to tho just taunt of being itself in need of reform. It is notorious — boasted of by some and not denied by many—;that a largo amount of the business which equally belongs to us all is surreptitiously,' unconstitutionally, and illegitimately transacted by party managers behind' the back of this 'House, without affording members with equal rights any opportunity of exercising due influence and making their views known.

uiiiueuce ana maKing ineir views Known. A Sham Election. Proceeding amid loud conversation all over tho House, which rendered his remarks difficult to hear, Mr. Ginnell said: "I shall occupy the time of this Houso very briefly;, if I am allowed to proceed. There is a sham committee of selection, which we nil know never selects, hut adopts the selection of the party managers'. How any member tvho records himself independent can take part in such a sham'is bejond my comprehension. A strong, upright Speaker in the chair would soon bring that sham to an end. To find arid elect such a man is our duty here to-day. It is a duty that is going to ho left undischarged. The Houso is going to elect a member because it knows that he will not put an end to that sham. The election of a Speaker and Chairman of Committees is itself one of the greatest of shams. No man is fit for cither of these positions who does not firmly maintain the absolute right of every private member, from tho greatest to the humblest, to an impartial opportunity of addressing the House within the limits of time and order.

Cagging Machinss. "Knowing this to bo so, having been for five years denied my right, and not having been allowed to open my lips in debate during the whole of last Parliament—(laughter)—l am bound to enter my protest against that public scandal. 1 give an emphatic 'No' to the proposal to re-elect Mr. Lowther. (Ironical cheers and laughter.) It is public knowledge that bis conduct, as Speaker and Chairman of Committees, has already I forced out of this House some worthy members, and . keeps out that kind of man who would scorn to sit in a House dominated by such a vice. It is not wholesome for Parliament or the country to allow this abuse to-grow, as wo all know it is growing. Not a word of reproof has fallen from either side to tho Whips for their sinister success in working the gagging machines. (Laughter.) The practice of calling only upon those members whose names appear on the lists supplied by the party Whips for corrupt party purposes cannot in itself be anything but corrupt. In addition to being unconstitutional, unfair, and disorderly, it makes Parliament positively contemptible.* It is; a deadly blow at public opinion, and if not stamped out will destroy Parliament." Mr. Ginnell added that Mr. Lpwther's success in gagging him during the whole of the last Parliament—(ironical a record difficult to beat.

Mr. John Redmond said the Nationalist party completely associated themselves with the general tenor of the observations of both Mr. Lowther's proposer and seconder. The party felt that they could absolutely trust to the right lion, gentleman's impartiality and justice. ' . " "

Mr. Parker warmly supported the motion on liehalf of the Labour party. Thß Speaker's Response. Mr. Lowther, who was greeted, with loud cheers, expressed his thanks for the kind things which had been said of him. He had been placed in a ratlior difficult situation by Mr. Oinncll's attack. Ho was sorry the, honourable member should feci that he was labouring under n grievance. He confessed that he was nut aware he had dealt out to him any different justice to what he had dealt out to any other member. The House expected great things of its Speaker, including impartiality, courage, patience, courtesy, and physical endurance. He knew ho fell short of the ideals which his hearers and himself was desirous that he should attain, but

tbo Houso «\is very giMicrous t.) its chief officer. He thanked n!l pnrtiiv. for the i-jicat iiu\is:urc (if ciiiilidcucc ;•('■ posoil in him dunns (lie lr.st four <■■: live ycais, and lie tnistcd lie fimie to deserve that confidence. (Cheers.)

Mr. Asquilh's Tribute, The Sergeani-nt-Arir.s then advanced to the table, and placed the mace tliercon, after which

Jlr.. Asquith, wild was greeted with loud .cheers, rose to congratulate Air. Lowtlier upon his re-election, lie prefaced his remarks by a'graceful allusion to the decease otKir Charles Dilke and Mr. S. H. liutchV Proceeding the rinht lion, gentleman saiii.tho duiy of interpreting the laws jind customs of Parliainent were in the hands of a man who could combine justice and firmness with sympathy and kindness. H was with tlie assured belief that tho House of Commons would profit in the future as. it had profited in the past by the union of these p;reat- qualities in its presiding officer that he. ventured to offer Mr. Lowthcr' their heartiest congratulations.