THE MINISTRY AND THE NEW SPEAKER.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 156, 17 February 1903, Page 4

THE MINISTRY AND THE NEW SPEAKER.

Speaking at Levin last week the Premier made the following remarks: —They had read that there was to be a reconstruction of the Ministry. He and his colleagues were only servants of the people, and so long as they had the confidence of the people and vere doing their duty and giving satisfaction to the people it was for the people to judge them. Those who had been reconstructing the Ministry must rest their souls in peace. When reconstruction came it would come from within themselves. There was not one of his Ministers who was not working in accord with himself. The whole of his Ministers would hand to him their resignations at the slightest hint, if that would help him in strengthening the position and giving effect to the will of the people. And it must be left at that. Then they wanted to know who was to be Speaker. The Government had not made up its mind. It was customary and constitutional for the Government simply to nominate or submit to Parliament the name of some member to be the speaker, but they had as yet had no opportunity of consulting with their supporters in regard to that matter. Those who had been dealing with this matter wanted to know who would be nominated, and the moment they found out they would try to give the Government a slap in the face and say, "He shall not be the speaker."