THE SPEAKERSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 143, 14 December 1922, Page 5

THE SPEAKERSHIP

"FATUOUS AND PUERILE"-

THE WILFORD NOMINATION.

(BI IELEaitAPH.-SPECIAI 10 188 POST.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. The "Star" remarks: "There is something quite fatuous and puerile about the suggestion to which prominence is now being given in Eeform circles that Mr. Wilford should succeed to the Speaker's chair. There' is a goop! deal that is refreshing in the frank confession of the Reformers that there is not among all the highly developed types of intellectual and political ability whom Mr. Massey claim 6as his supporters' a single man able to assure the responsibilities of the Speakership, and that it is necessary to turn, to the. Liberal ranks to find, a competent . successor to Sir Frederic Lang; but/what is even more remarkable about the generous offer of the Speaker's chair to Mr. Wilford is the calm assumption that Mr. Wilfcird can be induced to consider only the honour of the Speakership and the emolument attached to it,' and will not seriously take into account the consequences of suqh a step in all their political bearings. Clearly, if 'Mr. Wilford could be persuaded to accept this office, he would save the Reform Party the loss of a vote that Mr. Massey cannot spare, and he would reduce to the same extent the voting 1 strength of the Opposition,. But what is far more ( important is- that, by accepting the' chair, Mr. Wijftfrd would leave his garty without a leader at the most critical juncture, and that he would have given his followers a lead in a course of compromise which sooner or later would find imitators. If Mr. Wilford takes the Speakership at Mr, Massey'sl hands, is it, not probable or possible that other members of his party, influenced.by the same argument ■^-the need for conducting the country's business efficiently^—might be induced to accept office in the Reform Ministry or in some other capacity that would render them, from the Liberal standpoint, neutral or impotent?"