POLITICAL SITUATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1923, Page 2

POLITICAL SITUATION.

POSITION OF PARTIES. SPECULATION OX HAPPENINGS. TO-DAY’S OPENING OF PARLIA- j 3IENT. i ! SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, Fob 7. | There still is a good deal of spent- i lotion as to what will happen during the short session of Parliament to lie opened this afternoon. To-dav’s proceedings are likely to be of a very formal character. The members of the House will attend in the Legislative Council to bear tiro Commission calling Parliament together read, and then will return to their own Chamber to elect a Speaker. THE NEW SPEAKER. It i.s being taken for granted about the lobbies that Mr Statham. the Independent mom her for Dunedin Central. ] will be the Government's nominee for | this odiee. and that he will be elected , without opposition. -Mr Statham seems admirably qualified for the appointment by temperament, education and experience, and being unattached to any Party, he can accept the distinction without renouncing any of his political | principles. There will be very general regret, however, among bis political friends, that a young man who promised to go far in the service of the conn- < try. should surrender bis prospects to I become what is. alter all. only a super-; inr ollicor of the House. REASON FOR SELECTION. It is found to be laid to tec Prime Minister’s charge that lie lia.s selected Mr Statham as Speaker in order to avoid further depletion of tiny ranks of Reform by putting one of bis "v.n supporters into the chair. P> l| t v. Inn mm comes to look around the new | House be realises that of tlit ball do/.- ; on possible alternatives to Mr Mat ham | all saw Mr Young, the member for j Hamilton, are silting on the Oppnsi- , tion side of Co House. Mail Mr -Massey bad n solid majority, bis nppoim- j moot of the member for Otago Central j would have been accounted as a virtue, i GOVERNOR-GENERAL ’S SPEECH j Tine Oovernor-Gem i id's Speech "'ill be delivered on Thursday and notices j of questions and motions have been giv- | on in both chambers, but otherwise the j business will be unimportant and at it- I conclusion ail adjournment may la taxon till Tuesday. MOYER OF ADDRESS. When the House reassembles. M. , Girling the new member lor Mairaim will move the Addrcss-in-Reply and | the Opposition will have an opportun- j itv to propose an . amendment, with a I view to testing the strength of parties j ami putting doubtful votes m their proper places. It is expected that 1 this should happen. Mr lsitt. Mi Wittv and Mr Bell, who were elected ■is I i bora Is will vote with tlm Reformers in fulfilment of their more or less definite pledges, not to bring about a. , Image of Government that could he maintained only by tile good-will of t 1. Labour I’ariy. GOVERNMENT MA-lOßin. If tliis anticipation is correct, the Government in the went ol Mr Htat.ioin being in <bo chair, would have a majority of throe. Tl.i- of course would 1,0 an insufficient margin to carry the Hovernmenl through a working session of Parliament:, particularly ~s the three Liberals mentiomd would be free to vote on questions as they pleased, but it would be sufficient to encourage negotiations between the Reformers and the Liberals that might avert an immediate appeal lo the constituencies. LIBERAL INTENTIONS. It is reported to-day. however, that the Liberals have no intention of moving an amendment to the Addre.-s-in-Roply and that tlmy will leave Mr Massey to take the initiative in any -steps that may be contemplated towards a settlement. This would be in keeping with the altitude of masterly inactivity which Air Wilford lias maintained since the elections. LABOR INTENTIONS. Labour, however, may insist upon calling for a division, and in that vase the Liberals may abstain from voting.