THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 523, 2 June 1909, Page 6

THE SPEAKERSHIP.

Ever since MR. ; Guinness, sub-consci-ouslyremembering the title of a song which Sir Joseph Ward used to sing with great success, gleefully prophesied that thero was going to bo "a jolly good row" in tho coming session, thero has been a great deal of unnecessary agitation in the press over the problem of the Speakership in the new Parliament.. The concern of the Government journals has actually developed into something very like a campaign on bohalf of Mr. say "very liko"'a Baume campaign because we suspect that Mr. Baumb much more than a convenient possibility to flourish in Mr. Guinnebb's facci The most general report credited the Spoaker with the utterance of the following Sentiments; "Next session) when Parliament met, there was going to be a 'jolly good row.' He had boon'ft member of nine Parliaments, and this coming Bession was awaited with the greatest pleasure by him." This announcement appears to have caused pain to Ministers. Four days later Mr, Guinnebs, greatly porturbed— we;do not know why he was porturbed, but much can happen in four dayssought out a reporter and explained himself.: "As to the possibility of rows in the House, I stated that, judging from experience and what had boon said by members returned to the new Parliament, next session there Were boiindto bo political rows, more than hod been the caso in

past sessions. . . .'• I nov'ef Said or intended to imply that I knew or had heard of any combinations of. any. parties for : the purpose 01 harassing the Government." Hero was a roally thoroughgoing .gloss—a vory handsome retraction indeed. It could hardly havo been morehandsome if tlvc Spoal.or had remembered to explain that when ho spoke of the pleasure with which he awaited the "row" ho meant that it would give him' great pleasure to quoll it, or something of the sort. At any rate .Mn. Guinness had apologised so amply that.it must have been with surprise and alarm that he heard the Pnilic Minister's stern reference to.him nt a local banquet last week Sin Joseph—wo foel that we must qiioto the Government's own chronicler in so delicate an affair—"made pointed reference" to him: said ho almost felt contempt for some people who talked of going along-to Parliament to have, a jolly good fight. What tho country wanted was that its representatives should go into Parliament detcrmihod to do their best in the interests of the people of the country," etc, etc., etc.. And now wc find some of the Government's most trusted r.ilies in.the press solemnly counting up the merits of Ma. Baume. As a j contemporary points out, however, the Prime Minister is not a "vindictive" man--in sonio respects, at any rate—and it does not necessarily follow that MR. Guinness has been excommunicated by the Government. Ho is, as it were, morely "suspended," and it is for, him to decide upon his course of. action. Coming after his' vory handsomo apology, he must regard the PiusiE Minister's severe language as an.expression of dissatisfaction with tho amends already made. The Prime. Minister has no occasion to concern himself vory greatly about tho matter, ,If Mr. Guinness does nothing further in the way of apology for stating a' fact and his very natural pleasure in that fact, tho Government will not be without a choice in appointing a new Speaker. • Mn. WlWolsD has long been spoken of as well up in the list of Government members eligible for preferment, and he certainly showed us, when temporarily acting as Chairman of Committees, that he.possesses the tact and firmness and impartiality that aro among the, chief requirements of a Speaker. Mn. Baume can hardly claim to havo been a conspicuous success in the chair, but some of the Government journals arc claiming' that he also is possessed of qualities that aw not inconsiderable. Why Mil. Wit-' FOKd's greater claims. are' overlooked by tho same journals is not apparent. The dismissal of Mr, Guinness, however, it must be plain, Would cause the. Government the' embarrassment only of choosing between Messrs. Baume and Wilford.: But Mr. Guinness, if ho chooses, can: easily save the Government oven that embarrassment. It puzzles us,' wo must confess, to. guess what more Mr.. Guinness can add to (ho apology that has failed to satisfy the Prime Minister, We cannot think of any. now gloss-upon the original words that can bo more loyally penitent than the one already on record. There is nonnecessity, however, for Mr. Guinness to do what is necessary in any public way. A private "explanation", to the Prime Minister should quite meet the case, and wc shall not bo /surprised,' and we shall certainly not complain, if the announcement that the member for Grey is tho official Government candidate, shows'that that "explanation" has been forthcoming. ..-.•■;.