ELECTION OF SPEAKER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 149, 25 June 1915, Page 3

ELECTION OF SPEAKER

FORMAL, BUT INTERESTING. trhough the obvious was happening, the election of the Hon. F W Lang to the Speakership'of,the,HoAjßo..pLß,epjie3 I sentatives yesterday was not without its moments of interest. Dr. Newman, to whom had been entrusted the duty of nominating Mr. Lang, spoke, pleasantly l and with dignity of the capable ■ and [ wholly satisfactory way in which the member for Manukau had presided over the deliberations of the House during the last Parliament, upholding the honour of the position, and showing courtesy, consideration, and impartiality. Mr. R. Scott briefly seconded the motionj and then for several moments there was silence. Mr. Lang was sitting in the back Government benches, and as the silence continued, eyes were turned upon him. It was obvious there was to be no Opposition counter-proposal, because fonr or five members of the party were absent. "I waited before I rose to express my appreciation of the honour it is proposed to confer upon me," said Mr Lang at last,_ "to see if other members might be nominated. I wish sincerely to thank the mover and seconder of the motion." After being duly installed, and in returning thanks, Mr. Lang said that the j evenness of the partieß had made his duties more arduous than they had been in the past, when the House was very unevenly divided.* On one thing they would all be unanimous, and that was that all party differences should |sesunk, and all should use their utmost energy to assist the Old Country in its hour of need. (Hear, hear.) Personally, he would endeavour to divest himself of all partisanship, and members would not regret the confidence they had placed_ in him. (Warm applause from both sides of the House). The Prime Minister (the Hon. W F. Massey) heartily and sincerely congratulated Mr. Lang upon his re-election. " I specially congratulate you in that you have been elected withont a discordant note," added Mr. Ma«ey. That election showed his conduct had been satisfactory to th& great majority of the member* of the House — he might even say of every member of the House. He j hoped Mr. Lang would long continue to hold the position. Sir Joseph Ward's felicitations on behalf of the Opposition were warm and sincere; but when he touched upon the brief speeches of the Prime Minister and Dr. Newman a light vein of inference was apparent — as inference bearing upon the close- state of the parties which caused hearty laughter. • After Sir Joseph Ward had concluded, Mr. Lang again tendered his thanks, and the Prime Minister immediately moved the adjournment of {he House until today at 2.30 p.m. Thus the first incident of the session, about which until quiterecently there had been dark hints and suggestion* of a, trial of party strength, passed off quite formally and quite pleasantly. '