SPEAKER'S SEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22179, 5 August 1935, Page 9

SPEAKER'S SEAT

UNOPPOSED ELECTION CUSTOMARY PROCEDURE LABOUR'S PLAN TO ALTER By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received August 4, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUOBY, Aug. 3 A constitutional question of some difficulty with reference to the Speakership of the House of Commons has been occupying the attention of the Government and members of Parliament in recent weeks. According to constitutional convention, which, with rare exceptions, has been observed in recent history, the member who is chosen as Speaker is not opposed in his constituency by candidates of other parties during his term of office. In this way the judicial attitude of the Chair is safeguarded from the embarrassment of an electoral contest. Local politicians, however, in constituencies represented by a Speaker have criticised his enforced inactivity and claimed that the rule amounted to clisenfranchisement. Mr. Lloyd George Offers Aid In the case of the present Speaker. Captain E. A. Fitzßoy. the local Labour Party in Daventry, for which he sits, decided to nominate a candidate for the next general election and his candidature has been approved by the national executive, while the Labour Party, in conference, suggested alterations in the law to provide that the Speaker, on election, should not continue to represent a particular constituency. Other suggestions for meeting the difficulty have been advanced and criticised by the authorities on constitutional grounds, but it was revealed in a letter from the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, to Mr. Lloyd George, published yesterday, that inquiries he had made showed that none of the suggestions considered by the Government would be generally acceptable in Parliamentary circles. Mr. George hod written to Mr. Baldwin as "father of the House of Commons" to offer his services in solving the difficulty. Mr. Baldwin replied with the suggestion that in the circumstances, if the Speaker were opposed, leading members of the House, without distinction of party, might visit his constituency and appeal for his return. Compromise Thought Likely Mr. Baldwin announced that he and Mr. Mac Donald and Sir John Simon were prepared to do this. Sir Herbert Samuel, for the Liberal Party, subsequently signified his willingness to do likewise. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. George Lansbury, has now issued a statement further explaining the reasons for the action of the local Labour Party and emphasising the respect oi that party for the dignity of the Speaker's high office. Both Mr. Lansbury and the Prime Minister emphasise that the question is not a party one. The opinion is expressed in political circles that there will be a compromise before the general election makes the matter urgent..