The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4151, 16 June 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1876.

The first step in the career of the new Parliament has been taken, and Mr Fitzhkrbbrt has been chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives. The proposal to confer so high an honor upon a political opponent gave opportunity for a few remarks by the Premier explanatory of the principles on which so important an officer should be elected in future. He truly said in a new country.it was necessary either to follow a precedent or form one, and the first course has been chosen by both Government and Opposition. ’ Sir Julius, in proposing Mr Fitzherbert, referred more especially to the example of the last Parliament in its choice and condemned the idea of the election of Speaker being made a party question, In England this has more tlmp once been the case, the strength of the Government being occasionally tested on the assembling of a new Parliament by the election of a Speaker. Ihe undesirability of such a course is, how* over, verjreyident when the duties of the omce are taken into consideration. Amos n hl ?i7!Ty ascful “Primer of the Fnglisii Constitution and Government/’ Bays : „S!!?JV eaker ot . House of Commons is in eVMy sense a most important and dignified officer ° hwacter ot the debatesof the Bouse ftr, J 6l £ W on Judicial impartiality, ° f . ? ar l““entary fo.ms and precedents, and tact combined with courtesy of manner ■ If ® otn . b "' > beon identified with a party, ho is required to divest, himself of all party sympathies and to concern himself only with the mamtenance of the dignity and good order of the Mr Fitzherbert has been A strong "party man and has always been regarded a bitter and dangerous opponent; but he is scholarly and experienced, well up ini the principles and practice of Parliament, and amid all the excitement of party debate has never forgorten the old sentiment that "political differences should never interfere with private friendship.” Important as the position of Speaker has hitherto been, its responsibilities grow with tiine and the development of the Colony. Henceforth the House of Representatives will be the only legislature in New Zealand. Whatever form the Constitution may take in time; to come, any other elective bodies must be of a purely administrative character, and the Speaker and members have now more extended responsibilities than any former Parliament. There is every reason to expect more exciting debates than even the angry political contests of last session, and never was there greater necessity for their being presided oyer by a cool, clear-headed, shrewd man, not liable to be hurried into decisions that may be found untenable or of so onesided a character as to bring the office into contempt. The speeches of Sir Julius Voobl and Sir George Grey, though equally commendatory of the fitness of Mr Fitzherbert for the office of -Speaker, dief y.i° rci k ly the. different mental qualities of the men. . Sir Julius punctiliously avoids any allusion to the party effect of electmgMr Fitzherbert as Speaker and carefully removes any idea that Mr Fitzherbert has forsaken his party by stating that that gentleman would not accept the position without first consulting the leading politicians with whom he has latterly been assOciated. But gushing Sir George makes ho secret of the loss his party has sustained in the. withdrawal of " the most eminent of tbeir debaters from the House ” by placing him m the chair. So far as Abolition is concerned, the acceptance of the Speakership by Mr Fitzherbert must be regarded as a recognition that Provincialism is at an end.