PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 104, 22 June 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

OPENED BY COMMISSION. ——— SIR MAURICE O'RORKE RE-ELECTfeD SPEAKER. COMPLIMENTARY REFERENCES. jjfcr

FORMAL OPENING TO-DAY. IPHB PRICKS AWOOIATION.J Wellington, Juno 21. The first session of the fourteenth Parliament of New Zealand was opened to-day by Commission. Only three of the five Commissioners were preaent in the Legislative Council Chamber, viz., th ° Sons. H. J. Miller, L. Walker, and W. D. H. Baillie. The Hona. A. J. Cadman and W. Montgomery were The proceedings were purely formal, and there was only a small attendance of the public. In the Lower however, the galleries were full. The first business was the swearingin of members. Nearly all were present. They then proceeded to elect a Speaker. Major Steward proposed Sir Maurice O'Rorke, and said he believedthe proposal would be unanimously adopted. The high status of the New Zealand Parliament was due in a gnat measure to Sir Maurice O'Borke, whose knowledge of Parliamentary procedure and the Standing Orders was unequalled. Sir Maurice was first elected to Parliament thirty-nine yean ego, had sat in eleven Parliaments, and had been seven times elected Speaker, He (Major Steward) hoped Sir Maurioe O'Borke would be spared to fill the duties till the end of the term. Mr. J. W. Thompson seconded the motion, and said there was a special fitness in Sir Maurice O'Rorke's being proposed by Major Steward and himself, inasmuch as these three were the only members who sat in the Parliament of 1871. If Sir Maurice O'Rorke had not given satisfaction he would not have been elected so often. He (Mr. Thompson) tad every confidence iu his impartiality urid ability to conduct the important ilutii-s of tlie office. There being no other nominations, .Sir Maurice returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him, and feelingly referred to the loss sustained by the colony through the death of Messrs. Joyce, Field, and Crowther, former members of the House, since the last House met; also to the illness from which the Hon. J. McKenzie and the Premier suffered. He was sure all were glad to see the Premier amongst them, and would be equally pleased if the Hon. J. McKenzie was sitting alongside. Sir Maurice expressed pleasure to see so many Young New Zealanders returned to Parliament, at the same time regretting the absence of the old friends who were missing. He did not pretend to be infallible, but would, he hoped, do nothing that would forfeit the confidence that had , been reposed in him. Mr. Seddon congratulated Sir Maurice O'Borke on being again re-eleeted to the high and honouiable posi'ion'of Speaker. While all aie liable to err, he asserted that Sir Maurice O'Borke had ever tried to do his duty imparls tially and fearlessly. No doubt New Zeiland held the Lighest reputation of any in the colonic', which was greatly due to Sir Maurice O'Borke. Mr. Seddon referred to die death of Meters. Jo- ce, Field, and Crowther in feeling te»mn, and menli nod that tbe Ifjuise would be adjourned till to-morrowas a t mark of lespect. He cotihidtred that the House was it:dt bted to Sir Maurioe O'Rorke's constitunts for rc-.lectiog liim as their represent ai ive, so that the ■ House might be able to place bim in the Speaker's chair. He acknowledged the ti'.dly n frrecce to hin.self »nd rollongues, and also expressed p'easure at Capt. ltutseli's reappearance after his severe illness. Captain Rufsell congratulated Sir Maurice O'Koike on being re-elected -i[ eukflr Jand on the unique pofeition o having been re elected so often. Representing i-a he did a small minority n the iluuxr, it. was veiy important ..hat (here should be a string <n d impartial man in the chair to prottot the privileges of that minority. The House adjourned a$ 345 till 2.30 to morrow, when the foinul opening by the Governor takes place.