MR SPEAKER’S POSITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19442, 30 October 1925, Page 3

MR SPEAKER’S POSITION

STATEMENT BY ME. STATHAM. NOT ALLIED TO ANY PARTY. A statement regarding his position as Independent candidate for Dunedin Central was made last week by the Hon. C. E. Statham, who occupied the position of Speaker of the late Parliament. Mr. Statham explained that his acceptance ut the speakership did nut mean that he had aiaed himself in any way with any party in the House, although he Had been perfectly free to do so if he had thought fit without hr--airing any pledges, because of his freedom to vote where he pleased on a \V,i- -t Speaker was elected he held office for the whole term of the Parliameui, and changes of Government did not effect him. It was, however, the invariable rule that whatever Government happened to be, or was to come, into power during his term of office, the Speaker gave his casting vote—in the event of a tic—in favour of that Government on a no-confidence motion. If, for example, Mr. Statham pointed out, another party had come into power during his term of office, his casting vote on a no-confidence motion would lave had to be given in favour of the ■ew Government after it assumed office. To argue that because the Speaker gave sis casting vote in this way he thereby joined or became a supporter of the Government for the time being was to argue that the Speaker always belonged to the party in power, and changed ais party with every change of Government. He had not joined the Reform Party or .. - partv in the House. He still retainml his absolute independence. . went on tu say that it . s t ‘csire to keep clear of party politics during the present election. >u»-n a ruu.se made hi» position a difficult one, but he felt that as one who had had the privilege and the honour of being Speaker in the last Parliament, ind who hoped to hold the same position in the next, it was better that he should not become embroiled in any party strife. (Applause). In E/giand it had become an unwritten rule that the Speaker should not be opposed in his own constituency. That tradition was not being followed in the present election, but although he felt somewhat at a disadvantage, it was a free country and he had no complaint to make. (Applause).

Ihe candidate next dealt with the allegations that while occupying the Speaker’s chair he could not represent his electorate. He mentioned the fact that in 1923 Mr. McCombs, a Labour member, had been proposed for the bpeakership in opposition to himself. If Mr. McCombs had been elected to the chair would it have been said of him that he thereupon ceased to represent his electorate? In the Austral.an Parliaments there were to his knowledge at least three if not more Speakers who were members of the Labour Party. Was it also said of them that they did not represent their constituencies? He thought not. But these were the kind of tactics to which those opposed to his candidature resorted. St?, that claimed his appointment to the Speakership had surely Ui.ugui svmi Luuour to his native city, and in particular to his own constitu ency. (Applause). He was the first New Zealand-born Speaker to occupy the chair. (Applause). Again it was contended that as Speaker he did not speak or vote in the House, but did not that apply to the Speakers he had already referred to, and indeed to any other person who held the office, whether in the House of Commons in England or in any part of the British Dominions? Surely the use of such an argument was taking a very unfair advantage, and not altogether playing the ga m e.