PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 18858, 25 June 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

OPENED BY COMMISSION. FORMAL BUSINESS. SIR FREDERIC LANG RE-ELECTED SPEAKER. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 24. The first session of the twentieth Parliament of New Zealand was opened this afternoon by commission. The members of the House of Representatives assembled at 2.30 and were summoned by the Gentleman Usher of (he Black Rod (Mr H. Bothamley) to attend in the Legislative Council to hear the Governor-General’s commission read. On their arrival in the Council Chambers the Speaker, the Hon. W. C. Camcross, announced that he had received His Excellency’s commission appointing the following as his commissioners to open the formal business: —The Hon. W. F. C. Carncross (Speaker of the Legislative Council), Sir Francis Bejl, Sir William Fraser. Sir Walter Buchanan, and the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy. The Speaker then called on the Clerk of Parliament (Mr A. F. Lowe) to read the commission. This was done, and the Speaker announced that the Governor-General would attepd at 2.30 to-morrow, and would then deliver hit' Speech. In the meantime the members of the House of Representatives were desired to elect a Speaker. The members of the House returned to the representative chamber, and after being sworn in proceeded to the election of the Speaker. Mr George Hunter (Waipawa) moved that Sir Frederic Lang be appointed Speaker. Mr Hunter said the House had had many eminent Speakers in its history, but none had a better record than Sir Frederic Lang for impartiality and strict attention to hji Parliamentary duties. Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) seconded the motion, and after expressing appreciation of Sir Frederic Lang’s qualities and impartiality, added (hat he thought it would be a good thing if the precedent set by the British House of Commons were followed, and if a member on attaining the dignity of the Speakership were saved the strain of a contested election. No other nominations were made, and Sir Frederic Lang, .‘•[leaking from his' member’s seat, expressed his appreciation of the honour members proposed to confer upon him. He had been a member of the House for 27 years, had always maintained that when he was elected lie was the representative not only of his own supporters, but of all in his district. Similarly, when he occupied the Speaker’s chair as he had done for the past ■seven years, he fell it to be his duty to act with strict justice ami impartiality towards all members in the House. Sir Frederic Lang was then conducted to the Chair by his sponsors, and from that [dace thanked members for placing him for the third time in the highest position in their gift. The Prime Minister congratulated the Speaker on his election and mentioned that during the past forty years his seat, Manakau, had supplied the Speaker for 27 years. Sir Maurice O’Rorke and Sir Frederic Lang had divided this period, and during the other thirteen years Sir William Steward and Sir Arthur Guinness had presided. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Leader cf the Opposition) endorsed the Premier’s remarks, and added his congratulations to Mr Kane on his appointment to the position of Clerk of the House. On the Prem ie/s motion the House adjourned at 3.20 till 2.30 to-morrow. A VIEW OF THE PARTIES. LABOUR FRONT BENCHERS. BUSINESS TO BEGIN ON TUESDAY. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, June 24. To-day’s proceedings in Parliament were almost entirely formal. The Governor-Gen- [ crabs commission calling the session was , read in the Legislative Council, and then the I members of the House of Representatives met in their own chambers. The member:, took the oath of allegiance, and proceeded to the election of a Speaker. Four of the Labour members-—Messrs Bartram, Fraser, Howard and McCombs —chose to make an affirmation instead of taking the oath in the usual way. Sir Frederic Lang was re-elected without opposition on the motion of Mr. Hunter (Waipawa) seconded by Mr Isitt (ChristI church North). The Prime Minister and the I Leader of the Opposition congratulated the 1 Speaker, and then the House adjourned until to-morrow afternoon, when the GovernorGeneral will read his speech. The appearance of the House has changed considerably since last session. The Reform Parly is a solid phalanx on the 'Speaker's right, and contains many new faces. It overflows into the left ernss-bon--1 dies, where the enlarged Labour Party ) makes quite a formidable showing. Two of I the Labour members, Messrs McCombs and j Sullivan, have moved into the front benches, tiie first time their party has appeared in : such a position. j The reduced Liberal Opposition on the ■ Speaker’s left lacks several of its members, including Messrs Myers and Wilford. Mr Statham (Dunedin Central), who was elected originally as a Reformer and subsequently announced himself as an independent, has taken a seat in the back Opposition benches. The Governor-General will read his Speech to-morrow afternoon, and the real business of the session will begin on Tuesday, when an Imprc.-t Supply Bill will be introduced. The Labour group has re-elected Mr Holland as chairman. THE LABOUR PARTY 7 . APPOINTMENT OF SESSION OFFICIALS. WELLINGTON, June 24. The members of the Parliamentary Labour Party met at Wellington to-day. The following were present:—Messrs H. E. Holland (Duller), J. McCombs (Lyttelton), W. K. Parry (Auckland Central I, M. J. Savage (Auckland West), F. R. Bartrani (Grey Lynn), E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), D, J. Sullivan (Avon), and P. Fraser (Wellington Central). Mr Holland was elected Parliamentary chairman for the session, Mr McCombs party whip, and Mr Fraser secretary. Various aspects of the political situation were discussed, but no further announcement was made.