OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3513, 26 June 1920, Page 6

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

II WELLINGTON, June 24. I ('he first session of the twentieth ■ liament of New Zealand was open- ■ [this afternoon Toy commission. Kho members of the House of ReHlsentatives assembled at 2.30, and Be summoned by the Gentleman Ker of the Black Eod (Mr H. Both■fey) to attend the Legislative Coun- ■ to hear 'the Governor-General's ■amission read. On their arrival in I" Council Chamber, the Speaker (the ■n. Carncross) announced inat he 1-1 received his Excellency's CommisBn appointing . the following as his llimissioners to open formal busij-|-s: The Hon. W. F. C. Carncross ■leaker of the Legislative Council), f Francis Bell, Sir William Fraser, l_ Walter Buchanan, and the Hon. C. Be. Hardy. The Speaker then called lithe Clerk of Parliament (Mr A. F. mre) to read the commission. This ■■■ ■e the Speaker announced that the ■rernor-General would attend at 2.30 I'norrow and would then deliver his I'ech. Meantime members of the i Ijse of Representatives were desirI to elect a Speaker. ■"he members of the (House returned I" the Eepresentative chamber, and li being sworn in, proceeded to the ■istion of a Speaker. Br, Geo Hunter moved that Sir FredIk Lang be elected Speaker. Mr. Liter said the House had had many llinent speakers in its history, but, Ib had. a better record than Sir lieriek Lang for impartiality and p Ist'attention to his Parliamentary pr L. M. Isitt" seconded, ( and after pressing appreciation of Sir F. Ig J 9 qualities and impartiality, addIthat he thought it would be a good iig if the precedent set by the Bri- . I House of Commons were followed,

II if a member on attaining the aigr of- the Speakership were saved the in of a contested election. to other nomination was made, and p. Lang, speaking from his mem"3 seat, expressed appreciation of ! honour members proposed to conll'upon him. He had been a member the House for'27 years, and had al\s maintained that when elected he j a a representative not only of his a supporters but of all in his disit. Similarly when he occupied the »aker's chair, as he had done for the it seven years, he felt it his duty act with strict justice and imparity towards all members in the (use. Sir F. Lang was then conducted to chair by his sponsors, and from t place he thanked members for sing him for the third time in the hest position in their gift, 'he Prime Minister congratulated Speaker on his election and memled that during the past forty years 1 seat (Manukau) had supplied the ;aker. For 27 years Sir Maurice Rorkc and Sir F. Lang had divided 5 period, and during the other thirn Sir Win. Steward and Sir Arthur ihess had presided, 'he Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Leadof the Opposition, endorsed the Prc r r's remarks and added his congrattions to Sir F. Lang on his appointed. )n the Premier's motion the House ourncd at 3.20 till 2.30 to-morrow.