THE SESSION

Southland Times, Issue 19897, 16 June 1926, Page 5

THE SESSION

OPENING TIT BITS NO FIREWORKS APPARENT MR STATHAM CERTAIN OF SPEAKERSHIP. LABOUR AS OFFICIAL OPPOSITION. (Special to the Times.) Wellington, June 15. To-day did not provide any definite indication of marked political activity. A fair number of members have arrived but their presence caused no congestion of breathing space in the lobbies. As far as can been seen the first caucus to be held will be that of the Labour Party, the members of which have arranged to assemble to-morrow morning. It is expected that the Nationalists will confer on Thursday and there appears to be a possibility of the Government caucus being deferred until Friday. Any doubts concerning the appointee to the Speakership seem to have disappeared and the indications are that the Hon. C. E. Statham’s nomination will be accorded overwhelming support. It is extremely unlikely that the Labour Party will nominate anyone for that position. In fact it is practically certain that they will not. If a nomination came from that quarter it would assuredly not be for a member of the party, since, were he elected, the party’s claim for occupation of the Opposition benches would be weakened. • In the light of its numerical strength, the Labour Party becomes for the first time in the political history of New Zealand his Majesty’s Opposition. Judging by appearances this circumstance has created no heartburnings in the Nationalists’ (late Liberal) camp and those of the erstwhile Oppositionists who have already arrived in Wellington, seem quite resigned to the position. Mr Holland has taken over the suite in the library wing, previously occupied by Mr T. M. Wilford, and latterly by Mr G. W. Fobres, and the members of his party are making use of the Opposition Whip’s quarters which adjoin those of the Government Whips in the Legislative Council quarter. The Nationalist Whip’s new room is situated on the second floor of the new wing near the vestibule entrance. Sir Joseph Ward, “the last of the Liberals,” will have a room for his own use—■ the room at the top of the stairs in the old wing used last year by the Independentmembers, although a new name plate bearing the title “Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Ward” is ready to be affixed to the door. The old inscription “Independents’ room” was in its usual place yesterday and a wag has obliterated the apostrophe which follows the “s” in “Independents” and inserted one before it. Later on in the session the House will be faced with the necessity of electing a Chairman of Committees. The names of Messrs J. A. Nash and F. F. Hockley have been mentioned as the only likely candidates during the recess. A portion of the Chamber just inside the entrance was boarded off to provide a variety of ground gallery, which will probably be utilised for distinguished visitors or act as an extension of Mr Speakers gallery. SIR JOSEPH WARD RETURNS. ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND. “NO DANGER OF SPLIT IN PARTY.” Auckland, June 15. Sir Joseph Ward, the only Liberal member of Parliament, arrived by the Ulimaroa from Sydney to-day, and was asked what his attitude towards the Government, Labour, Opposition and Nationalists would be. Sir Joseph Ward replied, with a twinkle in his eye, that he proposed to be true to the party he was at present leading. It was at once suggested to him that there was in that case no danger of a split in the party. “That is very true,” he said, “I have no fear of any difficulties in that direction and I am equally free from entanglements.” He said this with intriguing seriousness and hastened to add that he had formulated a policy which had been unanimously accepted by his party which would also appoint its own Whips. Sir Joseph, who left to-night for Wellington, appears to be in better health than he has enjoyed for some years and said he was looking forward to the meeting of Parliament.