POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 28 June 1913, Page 5

POLITICAL.

0 SESSION PROSPECTS. Asked by a Wellington pressman, how long he thought the session would be, the Prime Minister said that the position was quite simple. “We have four months’ work in hand,” he remarked, “and if there is no obstruction and no unnecessary delay we can get through it in. four months. If there is obstruction or delay, very well, the session will be so much longer. That is the whole thing.” Mr F. W. Lang, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, is a native of Kent He came to New Zealand in his youth in 1872. Mr Lang first entered Parliament in 1893, when lie was elected for Waipa, his opponent being Mr Gerald Peacocko. In 1890, when the name of the electorate was changed to Waikato, Mr Lang was re-elected practically without opposition, the Rev. E. Walker being nominated against him by the New Zealand Alliance at the last moment, in order to secure a poll on the licensing question. In 1899 Mr Lang feated the Rev. Dr. Hosting, and in 11902 Mr H. J. Greenslade unsuccessfully contested the seat. In 1905 the ! position was reversed, Mr Lang being j defeated by Mr Greenslade. In 1906, on the death of the late Mr Kirkbride (M.P., for Manukau), Mr Lang contested the seat at the bye-eleo-tion, and won it by a large majority. Ho was re-elected for the same constituency in 1908, and again in 1911, when his majority over the second candidate was one of the largest in the Dominion. Mr Lang was elected Chairman of Committees last year, that position carrying with jib the office of Deputy-Speaker. There is considerable comment in AVellington over Mr William Earnshaw’s appointment to represent Labour in the Legislative Council, and it is understood he is by no means acceptable to that party. The other appointments were fully anticipated, and as party appointments cannot well lie cavilled at—but why Mr Earnshaw ? He was a worker in the Addington railway shops when he first came to New Zealand, and was after"ai ds a jirass-fimsher in Dunedin. He represented the Peninsula and Dunedin City from 1890 to 1900, and has since been concerned in gold mining ventured

Mr Xicholls is a half-caste, resident at Paorolk, and Mr Hardy was chief Government Whip when he was'defeated for Selwyn in 1911. Tiie position of Chairman of Committees ot, the House of Representatives will remain vacant in all likelihood fop a . week on two, “Domihr ! ion states, as time will not permit of the Chairman bein£, elected to coh-J tro! the House in Committee, while the‘first Imprest Supply’Bill 1 of the sesdon is being considered, and afterwards there will bo no immediate call ivrra- Amongst dates for The vacant position, Mr A. S. Malcolm, member for Chitha, seems to occupy the position of favourite, but there are other possibilities, notably Mr F. Mandei*-, ineitirv bet for Marsdeh.

The Prime Minister states that the Legislative Council Reform 'Bill will probably be introduced in the House this year, instead of in the Council, as was done last year, but the matter has not yet been definitely decided.