MR. G. M. O'RORKE AND THE SPEAKERSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5490, 21 June 1879, Page 5

MR. G. M. O'RORKE AND THE SPEAKERSHIP.

I>' a leading article on the Speakerships, the Tlmaru Herald says:—"lt is generally understood that, in tho case a vacancy in the Speakership of the House of Representatives, Mr. O'Rorke, member for Onehunga, the present Chairman of Committees, will be nominated by the Government for the superior office. We have every reason to believe, too, that his nomination would be welcomed by the House, and that he would be elected by a large majority against anyone else who might be proposed. Mr. O'Korke has for many years performed the labourious duties of the Chairmanship of Committees in an unexceptionable manner, and on many occasions has acted for the Speaker, often for days together, entirely to the satisfaction of House. He is not at alt a brilliant man, and he has the reputation of being indolent to a degree; but ho undoubtedly possesses the qualities which peculiarly fit him for presiding over a legislative assembly. He eeems to have an intuitive perception of the principles of Parliamentary practice, and has a natural aptitude for applying them with almost unerring judgment. No ono who watches him during the passage of a long and complicated bill through committee, can help admiring the patient exactness with which he brings the bill forward clause by clause, for discussion, follows tho various speakers upon it, notes the amendments proposed, disentangles them, arranges them in their proper order, directs the debate upon them, rejects inadmissible prepositions, gives every member a fair chance to express hiß views, represses excitement, soothes irritation, quells disorder, and presently brings the bill out in a totally new shape, perhaps, without having lost a moment of time unnecessarily, and without having appeared himself to be more than a passive observer of what was going on. He never speaks without good cause, never interferes, never puts himself in the foreground, never hurried matters, and, above all, never affects any personalauthority over theother members. Yet, when appealed to for a ruling, or when called upon to decide any difference of opiuion or settle any dispute, his decision is prompt and final. No one ever thinks of questioning his interpretation of the Standing Orders, or arguing the point with him about anything. As soon as he has given his ruling which he always does courteously and pleasantly, though briefly and tirinly, there is an end of the matter, and he proceeds with the next business, hushing any further sounds of discord by quietly ejaculating ' Order!' If ever he is resisted, though, ho knows very well how to hold his own; and it must be a very turbulent member indeed who refuses to be silent aftor Mr. O'Korke has called ' Order' twice, the second time standing up and looking calmly round tho House. JNo one, we bslieve, has yet had tho hardihood to .disobey him, when he has said ' The honourable member is quite out of order, He will please to resume his seat!' This quiet puwer which he possesses to such a remarkaljlo extent, and which ho exercises with so much goodfeeling, arises entirely from the confidence which every member of the House has in his knowledge of the Standing Orders, and his absolute impartiality and rectitude. Ho knows that he can always depend on the support of four-fifths of the members present, and they all know that whether they happen to agree with him or not in any particular instance, he is bound to be right nine cases out of ten. He is one of most popular rren in the House, too, and never incurs the slightest animosity through the discharge of his admonitory functions whilst in the chair. As far as the official duties of the Speakership are concerned, Mr. O'Rorke is probably by far the most eligible among the present members for the post. Socially, perhaps, there are some who would be preferable to him. Out of the chair, he is hail fellow well met with overybody, and scarcely commands "that personal deference among the Members, which it is very desirable that they should render to their Speaker. His elevation to the more dignified office, however, may very likely work an improvement in him in this respect ; and, being Speaker, he may see the necessity of behaving on all occasions in it manner becoming his position."