THE SESSION

Southland Times, Issue 19898, 17 June 1926, Page 8

THE SESSION

PARLIAMENT OPENED IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIAL HON. C. E. STATHAM RE-APPOINTED SPEAKER (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 16. The first session of the 22nd New Zealand Parliament opened to-day in circumstances not devoid of novelty. Even the weather, which is usually so atrocious for this event, changed its mood and the sun shone brightly all through the afternoon. There was no outside ceremony. This was an acceptable change. Long before the appointed hour for the opening, members of the House of Representatives were busying themselves arranging papers and generally fluttering down into seats which they will occupy for some weeks to come. A casual survey of the benches at once reveals the fact that there has been not only considerable transformation in the personnel of the House, but the disposition of the parties has been completely revolutionised. DISPOSITION OF PARTIES. For the first time in the history of Rew Zealand politics the Labour Party has become the Official Opposition and sitting in seats opposite the Prime Minister is Mr H. E. Holland (Buller) supported by a solid phalanx of Labour members who constitute the Radical element in the House. On the inner flank of the Labour Party sit the shattered remnant of the old Liberal Party, now known as the National Party. Their lines extend for a few benches until they infringe upon the outposts of the Reform Party. Here demarcation of the colour line is 'not so vivid for the milder Nationalists and more stolid Reformers make a more harmonious mixture. In this quarter of the House Wits in splendid isolation Sir Joseph Ward, the one and only remain-ing-out Liberal. It is, however, in the constitution of the Reform Party that the most remarkable development has taken place. In the previous Parliament the Government and the Opposition were so evenly divided that half the Chamber sufficed for each. To-day the “Coates move” has brought so many Government supporters to his aid that they occupy threefourths of the Chamber and sweep from the “noes” lobby round behind the Treasury Benches. This, though by no means the the largest party which has ever supported a New Zealand Prime Minister, is a spectacle not seen for many years in this Dominion. MINISTERIAL. On the Ministerial Benches, too, changes have taken place, for the departure of Sir James Parr and the elevation of the Hon. D. H. Guthrie to “another place” as well as the appointment of the new Ministers has necessitated some minor readjustments of the Ministerial places to secure the grouping of the members of the Cabinet in close proximity to the Leader of the House. AN AIR OF BUSTLE. In the novelty of the circumstances there was naturally an air of bustle and animation in the Chamber when precisely at 2.30 the Black Rod entered and announced that the presence of members was required in the Legislative Council to hear the commission of his Excellency the GovernorGeneral read. COMMISSION READ. Arrived in the Council Chambers, the members of the Commission, Sir Walter Carncross, Sir Heaton Rhodes, Sir Frederick Lang, Sir William Hall-Jones and the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, were seated on a dais and the commission, directing members of the Lower Hoifee to elect a Speaker, was read by Sir Walter Carncross. SWEARING-IN-CEREMONY. On returning to their own Chamber, the process of swearing-in members was proceeded with, members being called up in alphabetical order and taking the oath of allegiance in batches. The ceremony was watched by a crowded gallery. THE SPEAKERSHIP. The swearing-in ceremony concluded, the Clerk of the House invited members to nominate candidates for the Speakership. In nominating the Hon. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) for the position, Mr J. McC. Dickson (Chalmers) said that three years ago he had the honour of moving that Mr Statham be elected the Speaker of the House. He had then predicted that, if elected, Mr Statham would rank with the best of a long line of great Speakers who had presided over their deliberations. because he would be fair in dealing with members and firm in his decisions. That these predictions had been verified was shown by the appreciation expressed in their valedictory speeches by the leaders of all sides of the House *t the close of last Parliament. There was no need for him to recommend Mr Statham to the older members because they knew his fitness for the office, but to new members he would emphasise with what great success and credit Mr Statham had carried out his onerous duties in the previous Parliament. He moved: “That Mr Statham do take the chair as Speaker of the House.” The motion was seconded by Sir George Hunter (Waipawa) who said that ever since the establishment of a Parliamentary Government in New Zealand they had been blessed with a succession of great Speakers. These he enumerated and concluded by declaring that for dignity, ability and impartiality Mr Statham fell short of none of his predecessors. Sir Joseph Ward, in a felicitous speech, supported the motion, whereupon Mr Statham, in a brief speech, thanked his proposer and seconder for the kindly way in which they had put his nomination before the House and indicated that he was prepared to submit himself to the judgment of the House. There being no further nomination. the proposer and seconder conducted Mr Statham to the chair, where, standing on the steps, he once more thanked members for the honour conferred upon him, and declared his intention to uphold the privileges of members and the dignity of Parliament to the utmost , of his ability in the discharge of which duties he asked for the co-operation and goodwill of members enjoved amongst the Parliaments of the world. HOUSE ADJOURNS. At 3.35 the House adjourned until 2.30 to-morrow. LABOUR PARTY APPOINTMENTS. The Labour Party met this morning when Mr H. E. Holland (Buller) was re-elected leader, Mr M. J. Savage deputy-leader, P. Fraser secretary, and E. J. Howard and D. G. Sullivan Whips. All the members were present. THE SPEAKERSHIP. MR STATHAM’S ELECTION. (From our Special Reporter.) Wellington, June 16. As foreshadowed, the Hon. C. E. Statham was re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speech from the Throne will be delivered to-morrow afternoon. About half a dozen members were not in attendance to-day, the absentees being die Hon. A. T. Ngata and Messrs W. S. Glenn, T. D. Burnett. V. H. Potter, T. M. Wilford, and T. K. Sidey. The great majority of the House was sworn in on the Bible. Affirmations were made by the Minister of Health (the Hon. J ; A. Young) and Messrs P. Fraser, J. A. 'Lee, J. McCombs, ,E. J. Howard, and F. N. Bartram.

The member for Chalmers (Mr J. McC. Dickson) moved that the Hon. C. E. Statham be re-appointed to the chair. He said that he had the privilege of moving a similar nomination three years ago and it was gratifying to record that the member for Dunedin Central had fulfilled the predictions made at that time. • During the recent term Mr Statham was invariably fair and just and in every way upheld the traditions of the chair. The motion was seconded by Mr George Hunter. The member for Waipawa, in a very concise speech, said that ever since the instituting of a Parliament ary Government the country had been fortunate in the selection of Speakers, every one of whom had been men of the highest character and ability. He recalled the first Speaker in the person of Sir Charles Clifford, elected in 1854. He was followed by Sir James Munro, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, father of the late Attorney-General; then by Sir William Fitzherbert, the Hon. Sir G. M. O’Rourke, Sir William Steward. Sir Arthur Guiness and more recently by ] Sir F. W. Lang, a gentleman who was well known to the House on account of his courteous and kindly treatment of members. Three years ago he had the honour of seconding a similar resolution to the present one and ventured then to prophecy that if Mr Statham were elected his work would be found to compare favourably with that of his gifted predecessors. Tht prediction J was amply fulfilled. In the present nominee they had a gentleman who could be relied on to conduct the business of Parliament with dignity, ability and impartiality. Sir Joseph Ward said he had much pleasure in supporting the selection of Mr Statham as Speaker. He felt sure that Mr Statham would have the goodwill of all members. The motion was not opposed and the Speaker-elect, accompanied by the mover and seconder of the motion proceeded to the chair from the upper step of which he returned thanks for his election. Mr Statham said that he possessed a full sense of his responsibilities. It had been well said that the greatest possession of Parliament was the absolute impartiality of the Speaker. He could assure members that he would do his utmost to uphold that tradition. The sneaker regarded as a friend every member, but it had to be remembered that co-operat’on was expected from the members themselves. He had kindly recollections of the assistance rendered by every section of the House in the past and he hoped that those good feelings would continue during the term of the present Parliament. Congratulating Mr Statham on his return, the Prime Minister said that the Speaker’s re-election was a graceful compliment on the part of members to the manner in which he performed his duties during the last Parliament. Mr Coates said he trusted rhat Parliament would be an easy one and that the Speaker would have the co-opera-tion of every member. Members were jealous of the name of the Dominion Parliament and he believed that everyone agreed that endeavours should be made to maintain the standard of the past and if possible improve on it. The leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) said that the New Zealand Parliament had a record to be proud of and he could assure Mr Statham of the cooperation of the members of his party in keeping it unblemished. It was his opinion that Mr Statham had proved himself the greatest. Speaker the country had ever possessed. The leader of the Nationalist Party (Mr G. W. Forbes) referred to the high reputation of the New Zealand Parliament. There were never any “scenes.” He was convinced that Mr Statham would do nothing to diminish that reputation. In his hands the future work of the House was assured. Party caucuses should be disposed of by Friday night. Members of the Opposition held their gathering this morning, the Nationalists will confer to-morrow, and the Government members will assemble on Friday afternoon after business house have been completed. At the Labour caucus various officers were re-elected. A motion was passed expressing appreciation of the services rendered by members defeated in the last election. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. APPOINTMENTS RECOMMENDED. Wellington, June 16. The Prime Minister announced this evening the following had been recommended for appointment to the Legislative Council: — Mr C. J. Carrington, Dargaville. Mr J. A. Hanan, Dunedin. Mr T. S. Weston, Wellington. Mr Coates said also that it had been his intention to include the Hon. Sir Robert Stout in the list of appointments, but the Crown Law Office advised that a provision in the Legislature Act debarred the appointment till a period of six months had elapsed after Sir Robert’s retirement from the position of Chief Justice. Mr Coates added that the recommendation in respect of Sir Robert Stout would be duly submitted to his Excellency at the proper time.