THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1773, 11 June 1913, Page 8

THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR.

DIFFICULT POSITION TO FILL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Wanganui, Juno 10.. It is true that I aril dreadfully shocked," said Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.l\, when the news of Sir A. Guinness'? death was conveyed to him to-night. "I had a letter from liini only a few days ago stating that ho hoped to meet mo all well on the 2(nh. 1 knew him very well, and was a personal friend." Mr. Wilford added that, apart from that, he had been in tho llouse fourteen or fifteen years with Sir Arthur Guinness. He was a strong partisan on the floor of "tho llouse, but absolutely nilpartial when in the Speakers chair.. lhs position would be very hard to ji 11.1 hero was no man ill the Hou.se capablo (ill Mr. Wilford's opinion) of carrying out tho duties as he carried them out. It could onlv bo done bv a man having exceptional ability and possessed of knowledge gamed by long experience Df Parliamentary methods and procedure. Hokltika, Juno 10. At tho meeting of the Westland Comity Council to-day the following resolution was passed"That the council placo 011 record its deep regret at learning of tile death of the ITon. Sir A. Guinness, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and at the samo time expresses its high opinion of his public services since the very oarlv days of the Coast, when ho a member of the Westland Provincial Council. To Lady Giiinness the council tenders its deepest sympathy, as also to the neighbouring county and constituency, 111 which he was so valuable and energetic a nublic mail." It was mentioned at tho meeting that the death of the late Hon. It. J. Scddon occurred exactly seven years ago. \t the meeting of the Westland Education Board, and tho General Committee of the Westland Goldfields Jubilee, held tonight, similar resolutions were passed. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' TRIBUTE. When a deputation representing the friendly societies of Wellington waited upon tho Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Mr. John Kershaw, who spoke for the deputation; said he had been requested by the members to express their deep sympathy with Lady Guinness in her bereavement and to express also their appreciation of the great services tho late Sir Arthur Guinness had rendered to New Zealand. J[r. Fisher said he would telegraph to Lady Guinness, conveying the sympathy of tlio deputation. Personally he had been greatly shocked to hear of the death of Sir Arthur Guinness, and indeed the news had come as a great shock to all the members of tho Cabinet. Sir Arthur Guinness was, he believed, the oldest member of the New Zealand Parliament, and ho had had a long and faithful political career. Ho had risen to the position of highest eminence in tho llousi-, and ho had played a good part in the public life of this country, lie (Mr. Fisher) had been a personal friend of Sir Arthur Guinness, and he had been veiy deeply grieved to hoar of his death*