PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 27 June 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

CHOOSING A SPEAKER. MR. F.W.LANG ELECTED UNOPPOSED. THE. FORMAL OPENING. Tho opening of Parliament by Commission yesterday'was a very brief ceremony, and the only interesting event of the day was the election of a Speaker of the llouso of Kepresontativce, in succession to the late Sir Arthur Guinness. The dolivory of the Spcccli from tho Throne having been, deferred until to-day, yesterday's formal proceedings had few of tho ornamental features which are in evidence when Parliament is opened by his Excellency tho Governor in person. A. fairly numerous body of spectators lined tho approaches to Parliament Buildings just before tho hour appointed for tho opening ceremony, but no spectacles wero provided for their edification. Punctually at 2.30 p.m. tho Commissioners, Sir C. C. Bowen (Speaker of tho Council), the' Hon. 11, D. J kill (Leader), the Hon. W. 11. D. Baillie, mid tho Hon, C. J. Johnston, entered the Legislative Council Chamber, where members had assembled in readiness. A message was dispatchcd to tho members of the Lower House, and when they arrived the Commission and Letters-Patent directing tlmt Parliament should be opened wero read. Tho whole ceremony oocupied only about tea minutes, ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

SPEECHES AND PIiOCEDURE IN THE HOUSE. Very few Government members were absent when tho House of Representatives met, but on'the ether side, only about fifteen Oppositionists (including Labour men) wero in their places! Tho Speaker's chair was, of course, vacant, find remained so until the eloction had tiikca placo, Tlio message from tho Legislative Council was communicated to the Hous'o by tho Clerk (Mr. H, Ottcrbon), When members had returned to their own Chamber, tluo Prime Minister explained tho business in hand. "I havo to notify you, as has been already indicated in Another placo," ho said, "that his Excellency tho Governor 'has been notified of tho deatli •of tho Speaker of tho House of Representatives, Sir Arthur Guinness. Tire death took place at Groymouth on Juno 10. It becomes our duty therefore to proceed to tho election of a Speakor. TJio ©lection will bo conducted as usual by the Clerk of tho Houbo, Mr. Ottorson." Mr. Ottorson now formally announced that the House would proceed to elect a Speakor. Mr. J. Bollard, (Eden), senior Government member' for tho North Island, rose at onoo and. nominated Mr. F. W.; Lang. "I havo very great pleasure in, proposing," said Mr. Bollard, "that tho lion, member for Manukau, Mr. Lang, bo elected to fill tho chair of Speaker in this House. Mr. Lang is well known to you all. It is just twenty years now sinco ho ontorod Parliament, and with tlio exception of ono year ho has boon an. active and energetic member during tho whole of that time. Last session ho occupiod tho position of Chairman or Committees, and I think you will all agree with mo that ho conducted tho procecdings of tlio House in Committee with 1 dignity and ability. It is not necessary for mo to labour anything in favour of Mr. Lang. Ho is bo well known to the wholo of you that I feel thoroughly satisfied that, if you will elect ham to the honourable position of Speaker of this House, ho will oarry, out tho with dignity and.in an eilicient manner. Mr. A. 'S.' Malcolm (Clutha): 'As esnior member of tho Government party in the South Island, it gives 1110 a very great deal of pleasure to second tlio nomination of Mr. Lang for tho high and important position of tho Speakership. For eight years I have enjoyed tlio Intimate friendship of Mr. Lang, and 1 therefore know how admirably .he is fitted for tho position which it is now proposed to confer upon liim. -.t would 1)0 unreasonable to expect Mr. Lang never to make mistakes if ho wero elected; no Speaker had ©voir been ablo to completely avoid mistakes, but 110 was satisfied that Mr. Lang would mako Jw few mistakes as anv previous Speakor. Mr. Lang had tho further advantage that ho was, in tlio very best sense of tho word, a gentleman. Thanks to his kindly and courteous nature, 110 was sure of the aspect and esteem of every inomoer of the. House, and of that confidenco and kindly feeling in the House without which a proper conduct of affairs from tlio Speakers chair was impossible. What the House did expect and demand from a Speato was absolute impartiality, and all knew that the very thought of Mr. Lang being partial in any of hisi rulings or in tlio conduct of debate was out of the question. For.these reasons he had very great pleasure indeed in seconding titf nomination of Mr. Lung/

The Speaker-Elect. Mr. Lang said that no one regretted more than lie did the unfortunate circumstances that had it nooftssarv to havo an election to tho position; of 'Spcakor of tho House of Representatives. He fully recognised tlio great responsibility that rested on tho shoulders of any porson asked to undortako tho very important duties of Speaker of vho House. Tho New Zealand Parliament had been . exceedingly fortunate in tho past in tho choice of its Speakers., When ho first came into tho House in tho session o: 1894, Sir Maurico O'Rorko was Speaker., Ho had been Speaker on several ocoa- , eions before that and retained tno ofiico ■ for threo klifferent Parliaments, atterwards. During those nino wars Sir Maurico O'Rorko carricd out tho duties of Speaker in such a way as to maintain his reputation of being tho most distinguished Speaker in tho wholo of tlio Dominions of tho Empire. lho late bir Arthur Guinness had enjoyed tho privilege of being Chairman of Committees during tlio nino years ho had mentioned and in addition had had ton years experience as Speaker of , the House. Ho had carricd out his duties as everyone of them knew, in a very clbcieiit manner. Ho (Mr. Lang) was alluding to these things because it was 110 light (ask that any member was asked to undertake who was. asked to fill tlio position of Speaker of tho House, after tlio gentlemen he had named had carried out tho duties of the office in such a manner with such great experience and with such, conspicuous ability. Theso gciitloiiiuii, I hewwer, had loft a good, example, behind < them, and if members did him the honour of ©lectins him ho would endeavour to uphold tho dignity of tho House, and ho felt sure ho would havo tho support of members in doing so. Ho knew that thoy wero as anxious to, maintain tho high reputation that Parliament had always enjoyed as ho was himself. lie would endeavour to met® out .equal and exact justice to all. When tho Housa did him tlio honour in tho provious year i of appointing him to tho position of Chairman of Committee.'',, ho said that it ivould bo his principal aim to carry out Ins duties with strict impartiality mid hon. members, ho thought, would giv« iiiin credit, whatever his faults might havo boon, for carrying out that promis« to tho very letter. So, in tlio lnghei position to which it was now proposed to eleet him, ho would, if elected> endeavour to oarrv out his duties with strict mi. partiality, to uphold the dignity of l'ariiament, and to interpret the Standini Orders to the best of his ability. Hi I hanked his proposer and seconder and tho House, for tho honour it was proposed to.confer upon him.

A Unanimous Decision. There being no other nomination Mi. Lang was conducted to the Speaker's * flhnir bv Messrs. Bollard and Malcolm. Standing besido tho Chair Mr. Lang acain thanked the House for conferring up™ him the highest honour iu tho gift of Parliament, nnd promised that in discharging tho duties of his office ho would i>b?tain from all partisanship and know neither personal nor political friemk.' Members on both sides applauded as Sir, Lang took his scat in tho Speaker's chair. Congratulatory Spocches. Tho Prime Minister congratulated tho new Speaker upon boina callod to his