BRITISH PARLIAMENT RE-ELECTS SPEAKER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6946, 27 June 1929, Page 7

BRITISH PARLIAMENT RE-ELECTS SPEAKER

Unanimous Choice

VICTOR AND VANQUISHED WARMLY SHAKE HANDS MacDONALD AND BALDWIN. British Official Wireless. RUGBY, June 25. The newly-oloctcd Houso of Commons assembled to-day for tho formal task of electing a Speaker, following which members will bo sworn in during the next two or three days. Over 200 of the members did not sit in the last Parliament, and thero was a considerable proportion of thoso present to witness the election of tho Speaker and the conducting of him to tho Chair of Assembly. Many members arrived early to claim their seats in the Chamber, two actually entering their namoe last night. These were joined by others at midnight, and in tho early hours of tho morning this number was further increased.

Before business began at the assembly of tho House of Commons this afternoon Mr. Baldwin rose from his scat on the Opposition benches and held out his hand to Mr. MacDonald, the new Primo Minister, who shook it warmly as the cx-Primc Minister congratulated him on tho success at the polls. Members cheered as tho Primo Minister and tho ex-Primc Minister walked together to the Houso of Lords, where tho Commons went to receive tho King’s Message bidding them elect a Speaker. On returning to the Houso of Commons, Mr. Gillctt, the Labour member, and Lord Hugh Cecil proposed aud seconded respectively tho ro-olcction of Captain Fitzroy, Conservative member for Daventry. Both paid a tribute to tho unfailing impartiality and judgment of Captain Fitzroy in the Chair. His election was adopted unanimously, and after tho Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, and Mr. Lloyd George, as leaders of tho throo parties, had congratulated him, Mr. Gillctt and Lord Hugh Cecil, in accordance with the old custom, proceeded to where Captain Fitzioy was soatod on a back bench and, each taking his hand, conducted him to tho Speaker’s chair, which, according to ritual, ho accepted with symbolic reluctance. Afterwards ho thanked tho House, and was loudly cheered. '

To-morrow the Houso of Commons will bo summoned to the Houso of Lords to hear tho King’s approval of its choice, and tho rest of the week will bo occupied with the swearing-in of membors. Next Tuesday business really begins with the reading of tho King’s Speech.