SIR CHARLES STATHAM

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1931, Page 3

SIR CHARLES STATHAM

RECORD AS SPEAKER

Probably tlie hardest-worked mall in 'Parliament Lo-dav, s vs a correspond an t, is the Sptuker (Sir Charles Statham, who, despite the tbn and How «)' tire political tide, has never missed a day in his attendance record in the House since his election to the Speak.rship eight years ago. 'Marly this year Sir Charles Statham, who was feeling the physical strain of a particularly strenuous session last y.ir and a busy recess, hau planned a let Ithreeruiting holiday. But so rapidi.y was the political development following the return of the Prime Minister from-the -Imperial Conference th it the Speaker was called to his parliamentary duty for an einergeney-'Wsswn'Hn'>Aprilrv^w-. 'Mention was made of (his fact at the dose of the emergency session, when spontaneous tribute was paid to the conscientious manner in which Sir Charles ■Statham had executed his exacting duties during the most strenuous session on record. During the recess Sir Charles was ordered to 'Rotorua for a much-earned rest, and although this excursion has been reflected in a generally improved state of health, iho session which has just begun promises to give Sir Charles little respite from the duties of president of the discussions in the House ol Representatives. x “I am afraid T had to rush away and leave some of my constituents unattended,” Sir Charles said to-day, when speaking of his sudden departure from Dunedin to Rotorua some time before the session, ‘‘but the doctor ordered me to rest in order that I might become quite fit for the interesting session ive have just begun.” If Sir Charles Statham possesses one shortcoming in office, it is his conscientiousness, and upon his return from Rotorua last week his friends and callers found him busily engaged in attending to a multiplicity of 'things which the ordinary member of Parliament—even though he be Speaker—-has to handle. The dignified position of Speaker does not remove him from the suffrage of his people, and he is inundated with the usual requests which reach members of the House of Representatives asking attention. for district and national needs. When the session ends he, along with his fellow-members, will 'take the platform in the usual way and seek the privilege of representing them for a further term.

Sir 'Charles had many solicitous inquirers about his health when the session opened on Thursday of last week, and he was in receipt of many messages from outside the House expressing the wish that he would return from th'is session a fit man, prepared in every way ior the election campaign he will be called upon to contest immediately the legislative programme has been disposed of.