ELECTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SPEAKER.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2510, 10 July 1915, Page 12

ELECTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SPEAKER.

_Sir, —111 your editorial of yesterday (Thursday) entitled _ "An Interesting Ouange," dealing'with the election of a Speaker of the Legislative Couucil, you sho\y a remarkable ignorance of the subject. You say that "The practice until recontly was to allow members of tlio Council to vote secretly for' any member of their _ own brouch of the Legislature who, in their opinion, was best qualified to fill important ol■fice." As a matter of fact, the custom was that a candidat-e for t'lie Speakership should be openly nominated by not more than one other member. If there should be only ono. nomination then the nominated one was declared duly elected J if more than one Was nominated then a ballot took place. You say that the new (jystem. "possesses tho advantage of affording tho Councillors an opportunity. to exerciso complete liberty of judgment," and "a freer, choice." How can that be? Under tho old system any Councillor who could find a nominator might b'o a candidate; under the new 6ystem tho i choice of' the Council is limited to five. I fail to see any increase of liberty here. You appear to think that, the outcome of, the new system, (tho election of tlio Hon. Mr. ■Johnston) is a proof of its excellence. While not for, one moment casting any doubt upon tho merits of tho new 'Speaker, limy I remind you that under tho old system a. gentleman of such high 'standing as Sir Charles Bowen was twice elect&l Speaker. Will you venture to suggest that the "outcome," to uso your own word, of the old system was an indication of inferiority to the present system ? You point out that under the old system "it might happen that a majority of thoso present would at, the first ballot favour ono particular member." This is exactly what took placo on Wednesday; so in that respect there is no difference between the new system which you favour and the old system which you condemn.—l anj, otc., OBSERVER. . tTlie new Standing Orders do noi re-strict-the choico to Jive members. Any member may bo nominated, but the five securing the-highest, number of votes at the'first nomination go to the.ballot unless anyone of the number secures an absolute majority. Any,of the five may withdraw. Our contention . was tliat the now" system was better than the old in certain respects; not that it was impossible to elect a' good Speaker under tho'old 6ystem.] : : : . I