THE VACANT SPEAKERSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1774, 12 June 1913, Page 4

THE VACANT SPEAKERSHIP.

AN OPPOSITION VIEW. (By Tol&graph.—Pron, Cliristchurch, June 11. Speaking to a reporter to-day, Mr. G. W. Russell, M.P., said that tho ofiioo of Speaker of tho House of Representatives was naturally within tho gift of tho prodominant party in the House. When tho lato Sir Arthur Guinness was last elected Speaker it_ was at tho timo tho Liberal Administration held the Treasury benches. Since then a chango of Government had taken place, and Mr. Massoy was now in power, with a majority of members, at'his back, and-naturally ho had thf power of nomination, and of carrying his nomination through. Mr. Russell, therefore, expected that Mr. Lang, who has been closely associated . with tho Prime Minister for a groat many years, and had been made Chairman of Committees, would bo elected. Mr._ Lang had had only ono session's oxporionce as Chairman of Committees, and it might bo somewhat in the nature of an experiment to promote him to tho ' Speakership, as he had still to givo evidence those qualities required in ft Speaker if a difficult situation wero set ' up. However, any Speaker could always • rely upon tho House itself to support him in maintaining order, and Mr. Russell's impression was that Mr. Lang would be elected.

In Toply to a. question, Mr. Russell ' said k;e could express no opinion as to ' what attitude t.lio Opposition would take ' up in tho matter.