ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10410, 7 April 1897, Page 5

ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

ip M first business before a new Parliament is the election of Speaker, which m ust precede the formal opening by the Governor or by the Governor's representative. That was the only business before the House yesterday, % ;t was transacted expeditiously and satisfactorily. Sir G. M. O'Rorke " s elected without opposition, and 111 this a wise course was taken. Reports have been current for some time that Mr Eolleston might be put in nomination by the Opposition. To have done so would have been a mistake in every way. Mr. Rolleston is a great accession to the House as a wise and unselfish ■politician, and as a man who is well fitted to take a prominent part in the debates. He is fitted at any time to fill Ministerial office, and we have none too many of such members in the House. But we doubt if he would have made a satisfactory Speaker. We do not think he possesses the faculty of rapid decision necessary for the office, although we have no doubt he would have been dignified, and would have endeavoured to be impartial. In the brief speech lie made after election Sir G. M. O'Rorke referred to the fact that he alone was left in the House of those that sat in tlie session of 1861. Sir Maurice O'Rorke is therefore now not only the Speaker but also the Father of the House. We congratulate Sir Maurice on being chosen for the seventh time to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives.