DEATH OF THE SPEAKER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 32, 12 June 1913, Page 5

DEATH OF THE SPEAKER.

THE VACANT CHAIR., , f Christchurch, June 11. Speaking to a reporter to-day, Mr G. W. Rusesll, M.P., said thao the office of Speaker was naturally within the gift of tho predominant party in the House. When Mr Guinness was last elected Speaker, it was at a time when‘the Liberals held the Treasury benches. ' Since then a change of Government had taken place, and Mr Massey was now in power, with a majority of members at his back, and naturally he had the power of nomination, and of carrying his nomination through. Mr Russell therefore expected that Mr Lang, who had been closely associated with the Prime Minister for a great many years, and had been made Chairman of Committees, would he elected. Mr Lang had had only one session’s experience as Chairman of Committees, and it might be somewhat in the nature of an experiment to promote him to the Speakership, as he had still to give evidence of those qualities required in a Speaker if a difficult situation were set np. However, any Speaker could always rely upon the House itself to support him in maintaining order, and Mr Russell’s impression was that Mr Lang would he elected. Mr Russell, in reply to a question, said that ho could express no opinion as to what attitude the Opposition would take up in the matter. THE POLITICAL POSITION. Wellington, June 11. Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, Ministet of Jusice, left for Christchurch last night, en route to Greymouth, and will represent the Government at the funeral of Sir Arthur Guinness, on Friday afternoon. Flags on the public buildings were displayed at halfmast as a mark of respect; c -o the late Sir Arthur Guinness.

On behalf of the City Council and c’tizens of Wellington, the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke) yesterday sent a telegram of condolence to Lady Guinness, owing to tho death, of Sir Arthur Guinness.

The public reception which was to havo been tendered to the Hon. Jas. Allen at tho Town Hall on Friday evening, has been postponed sine die.

There is no rule of ex officio or automatic succession on tho demise of the Speaker. Parliament will assemble on June ‘26, without any officer possessing the constitutional authority to preside over its deliberations. From tho point of view of tho Speakership, tho position will bo analogous to that at tho opening of tho first session of a new Parliament, .when mem-

bers are convoked by Commissioners acting upon the authority of tho Go vernor-in-Council. This procedure will be followed at the opening of tin frthcoming session.