SPEAKER CHOSEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18974, 26 March 1936, Page 8

SPEAKER CHOSEN

DOMINION PARLIAMENT INSTALLATION CEREMONY MEMBER FOR NAPIER TRIBUTES BY LEADERS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Without much ceremony, New Zealand's twenty-fifth Parliamenl met today. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 and a few minutes later members were summoned by Black Rod to the Legislative Council chamber, where a commission declaring the session open was read. A message was read from the Gover-nor-General, Viscount Galway, asking members to elect a Speaker and they returned to their own chamber, where thev were sworn in. by the Clerk of the' House. Only Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago) and Mr. K. .1. Holyoake (Motueka) were not in their places. The Clerk then called upon the House to elect a Speaker, and Mr. W. J. Jordan (Mannkau) at one© rose and nominated Mr. W. F.. Barnard, the member for Napier. This was seconded by Mr. R. McKeen (Wellington South). Both referred to Mr. Barnard's term in the House, and contended that he was eminently suited to fill the high office of Mr. Speaker. Mr. Barnard, who was sitting at the hack of the Chamber, rose and thanked the mover and seconder of the motion for the kind things they had said about him. Ho said! he understood that, for something like two centuries in the House of Commons, it was the custom tor the person proposed as Speaker to plead his utter unworthiness to fill the office, and Mr. Barnard said he felt some sympathy for that old-time practice. However, it .seemed proper to do nothing more than follow the wise words of ibe standing order, and he accordingly submitted himself to the judgment of the House. TENTH IN THE LINK Messrs Jordan and McKeen. then proceeded to Mr. Barnard's bench and escorted him to Mr. Speaker's chair. Standing beside the chair, Mr. Barnard thanked members for their confidence and goodwill in electing him to the responsible office of Speaker of the House. He understood he was tenth in the line of succession since responsible government was established in New Zealand in 1854. The names of previous occupants of the chair, • such as Sir Maurice O'Rorke and Sir Arthur Guinness were still remembered with respect and even affection. The standard of chairmanship of the Housei had always i been an exceptionally high one. He had sat under one Speaker only, •Sir Charles Statham, and 'he' was glad to testify to the marked ability and strict impartiality with which Sir Charles had always executed v the' duties of Sp.ea.ke-r.

Mr. Barnard said he believed he had the sympathy and goodwill of every member of the House; and he asked for the indulgence always extended to new members of the House and to members who were new in office. He would always try to be fair and impartial, and maintain the-best tradition's of the Speakership. He would endeavour to uphold the dignity and decorum of Parliament, and so preserve unsullied and unharmed that constitution which had come down to them, and which it was their fasK to leave as a noble heritage to others. GREAT TRUST APPRECIATED.

"In conclusion," said Mr. Barnard, "I thank honourable members for the very high honour they have conferred upon me, and I desire to assure you that. I shall at all times endeavour to preserve the great trust which you have reposed in me."

Mr. Barnard then took the chair, and the sergeant-at-arms laid the mace on the table.

The Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, said lie counted it a privilege to be able, on behalf of the Government, to congratulate Mr. Barnard on the high office to which ho had been elected. After being 35 or 10 years in the House one could perhaps extend sympathy as well as congratulation:: to the person who was elected Speakei because, after all, it was a fairly worrying position, and Mr. Speaker needed a great deal of patience in order to be up with the under-eurrents of conflict of opinion, and sometimes heat, that arose on the spur of the moment.

"We have every rensoji to bo proud of your predecessor, :i. '' continued Mr. Savage, "and we have no reason to doubt your ability to rise to the heights they have marked." Mr. Savage tiaid ho had spoken on behalf of the llovenimont and'he was sure lie could include all sections of the House when he said that Mr. Barnard would have the sympathy and assistance'of. every member of the House in tho arduous task to which ho had been called.

The Rt. Hon.' 0. "VV. Forbes, Leader of the Opposition, a ''o congratulated Mr. Barnard. He had every confidence that the House could rely on Mr Barnard's fairness, and also on his desire to seo that the reputation of Parliament was upheld to the highest degree. The New Zealand Parliament had a very fine record, said Mr, Forbes, and ho did not remember anything that, could be culled a "scene" in that chamber. Ho did not think there ffin a popular assembly in any other part of the world of which that could be said. The Opposition would do everything it could to uphold (lie reputation of tho House, and also to maintain the privileges of members of the House.

The Rl\ Hon. .1. (!. Coates, and the member for Wellington Suburbs, Mr. It. A. Wright, added their tributes, after which Mr. Barnard thanked members for their remarks.

The House then adjourned till 2.30 next day.