MR J. W. LOWTHER.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 11 August 1921, Page 6

MR J. W. LOWTHER.

GREAT SPEAKERSHIP ENDS. “The Speakership of the House of Commons is really one of the great offices -of the world,” said “The Times” in announcing the retirement of Mr J. W. Lowther after having held the post sinch 1905. “Abroad, such is its resounding fame, it ranks in dignity almost with the highest positions open to unanointed heads in government, the Presidencies of the United States and France. At home it comes next to the Premiership among the highest prizes of public life. Cabinet Ministers have been willing to give up their places on the Treasury Bench for the Speaker’s Chair. Spring Rice, Chancellor of the Exchequer had his heart set on the Speakership. That was in the thirties. Another Cabinet Minister, Aber cromby, was selected instead. Addington, who occupied the Chair at the opening of the 19th century was the only Speaker who ever resigned to take up another office. But the office was that of Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Commons.

“The Speaker has the same salary as

the Prime Minister, £5,000 a year, and also a house at the Westminster Bridge * end of the Palace of Westminster, free of rent, rates, and taxes. He gets £l,OOO for outfit—to buy his horsehair wig, black silk gown that is worn ordinarily in the House, his State robe fringed with gold for ceremonial occasions, and his cocked hat of beaver which he carries in his hand, but has never been known to wear. He has one privilege which he alone shares with Royalty. That is to ride or drive through the Archway of the Horse Guards, Whitehall. On his retirement, after 10 to 15 years’ service, he gets a pension of £4,000 a year, and is raised to the peerage with the title of viscount.

Perhaps the chief quality in the making of a successful Speaker is a nice discernment or adroitness in the handling of men —to their faults a little blind, to their virtues more than kind. In a word, tact, that peculiar gift of saying or doing exactly the right thing in a situation that is difficult or uncertain because of the unaccountability of human nature Mr Speaker Lowther possessed that quality in a high degree. He managed the House of Commons with remarkable success, and, what is more, almost made a joke of the task, so easy and genial was the way he always set about it. How often did his wit and humour temper and soften the asperities of party conflict!

Mr Lowther comes of an old and distinguished Westmorland and Cumberland family which has been associated with the House of Commons for more than 200 years without a break. He himself has sat in the House for close on 40 years. In the Chair, to which he was first elected 16 years ago, he looked the country squire in wig and gown—bearded, freshcomplexioned, clear-eyed, like one given to sport and out-of-door life—and as capable of presiding over the House of Commons as at Quarter Sessions. When he rose to call to order or rebuke, what a contrast his composed and blithe manner and steady gaze presented to the spluttering anger of the member at fault, and, still more, to the tumultuous House, should the disorder be general!”