The Speakership.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 1037

The Speakership.

Chatting lo a “Star” representative the other day a Wellington provincial M.H.R. said he was disinclined to believe the report of a Southern paper that Air MaNab would be a candidate for the Speakership. but probably something definite would be known on this point at the. banquet to the Mataura representative this week. “If,” said he, “it comes to a contest bet ween Air McNab and Air Guinness, the former will win, and fairly easily. as many of the Northern members will be ranged against the Chairman of Committees in the last Parliament, while Southern legislators will cast pretty nearly a block vote for Air McNab.” lie coincides with the general opinion expressed that the coming session will be a long and lively one, especially if the Premier introduces a new licensing law, which, to his mind, would be the outcome of a bitter struggle between the temperance party and the supporters of the moderate and the liquor sections. There are also indications of interprovincial jealousies arising among crs’taiu Northern and Southern members concerning the statements recently made as io the Otago Central and the Midland railways. This matter will seemingly play an important part in the discussions of the new Parliament, ami much bitterness may be imparted into the views

held by the respective factions. My informant declared that the Northerners would not stand another Minister being selected from the South Island, the preponderance of the Middle Island’s representatives in the present Cabinet, being now tOo large, and Mr Scddon might burn his fingers were he to ignore the feelings so largely shared in by the Northerners that the next Minister should ••.oinc from their end of the colon v.