THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11491, 26 January 1903, Page 6

THE SPEAKERSHIP.

The statement made by our Duiwdin fc» temporary, that the selection of Mr'fc McKab, the member for MaUura, m Speaker, is practically a foiegone elusion, will probably come as a sun* to a good ma»y people who tliougitUft Mr Guinness was still "in the nWwi for the portion. It was believed tkt Jj, Guinness Vs experience as Chairman tf Committees and, in the tempoury of Sir Maurice OKorke, aa Dmty! Speaker, would constitute a claim for a) appointment to the permanent occDp«pcf of the Speaker's chair which }Ir B*dsa could not overlook. But however, mj

fitted in tlis respect for the post, Mr! Guinness lacks some of the qualiti* £. sirable in a Speaker. Mr Seddon oomfc,, it is true, an ex-Speaker of the _«*-. among his followers, but it is noi&jog" that Sir W. J. Steward was but a poori_»,l stitute for Sir Maurice O'Borke, who in many respects an ideal Speaker. *&% W. «J. Steward was well-meaning and etgZj. teous, but other qualities besides thttt «| required to rule a House, and. in fjrwnitoi'; and quickness of decision he was lacking. Whether Mr McNab these essential requirements remttKto be seen. He is oourteow '<«|, dignified, a man of high and popular on both eides of .*ti|, House,' and with experience m*y "jfcthe position with credit to himself td+d'

Parliament. The appointment, if ..osf.:. finned, will, however, be so much ejh_- :- experiment that the new Speaker's* 'tWe duct of affairs next session watched with general interest. - 3ti~' best man in the House for -'-W, position would undoubtedly be ;|fi?' William Kussell, and if it jb true, &&?. contemporary believes, that the GoW#Tment "might have risen to the " height of the occasion," and him, it ia a matter for sincere regtttjo|P'i he declined to be nominated. Ev_ the selection of a. Speaker off hi* >£&: Mr Seddon is far from being ai of his troubles. The work of Mpfh structing his Cabinet has still t%j§" faced, and in endeavouring to placstsjji|£various sections of the party the 'ha* an unenviable task before him. v -£i!|i. : North Island ia clamorous for _xg|rai>_ presentation in the Ministry, and doubt, get it. No one will be **$$}. to see Mr Hogg appointed. Miu»t»llf: Lands. He knows something of tb»;M|p ject, albeit liis experience haa _ift"3|jg? tirely in the North Island, and hi'Ulf good party man, as Mr SedUon Ttcepfyf&jititled. Mr Guinness, robbed of the slip, may not be content to remain flftvi? man of Committees, and a place mayJOKJ to .be found for him in the which case he might be given the fit&m§: of Education and possibly also of JflP(ffj£ Whether the extra Minister which ttjjfjg||arrangement would give the North would satisfy that rather w exigeaJttV?. jilf two of the colony, is open to path of reconstruction is, indeed, A_t"»7 pitfalls. But Mr Seddon'* expressed KUoh. strong opinions necessity of strengthening the 3_ll|g that he can hardly avoid making changes, especially in view of the incpj|tf| fighting-power of the' Opposition th*t;*ipi face him next session, '^fraw