THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 204, 30 June 1903, Page 2

THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

MR GUINNESS ELECTED U&OPPOSED. The members of the Lower House having been swora in, Mr McNab roie and moved that Mr A. R. .Guinness be elco'ed Speaker. After paying a high tribute to Sir M. O'Rorke's services as Speaker, Mr MoNnb went on to refer to Mr Guinness' long pulUmentury experience, mentioniog tbat this was his 23rd siS:ioa in the House. He had been Chairman of Committees sines 1893, and ho (McNab) thought he wacorrect io Baying the House would]

sustain him in the position and upheld him in tho chair until he was able by long experience to attain to the knowledge cf his gnat predecessor, Sir M O'Kojke. 1 Mr Millar, in seconding the resolution, referred to the difficult b>sk Mr Guinnesi had before him in fol'owiog in tbe footsteps of Sir M. 0. Rorke, although he believed he would admirably fill the p >itioo; Mr With-ford spoke briefly in support of Mr Guinncßs' election. No other nomination were received and Mr Guinness speaking from his place on the floor of the House, conveyed to his brother members bis gsatefui acknowledgments of the high : honour they had conferred on him. He was fully impressed with the responsibilities attaching to the holder of the office < f Speaker, He must strive sedulously to preserve the diguity of the Hous.i; he must strictly observe due courtesy to all i s members; he 1 mnst know no distinc'-irn of persons - they all ttood here on the same level. Your Speaker mu-t disregard all claims of friendship either personal or political. Mr Guinness went on to say : " How far I shall succeed in attaining these high qualities, whioh were so eminently possessed by my prepecessor, Sir Maurice O'Rorke, I dare not presume to say; but to the best of my skill and ability I shall do my best, although difficult the task will be. I believe the House cf Representatives is not a bard taskmaster, and in sitting in judgment on i's high officers it do. j s not exp?ct its Speakers to be infallible, but will be satisfied if he shows an earnest dt-sire to perform the duties of his high office zealously, faithfully, and impartially. I ehall endeavour to uphold the dignity of the House, to fairly interpret its Standing o.di-rs r to hold the balanoe between I parties on the floor of the House with an impartial band, and to endeavour to 1 the best of my ability to discharge all | dutitß of office of Speaker with satisfaction to the whole of the members of the House. A most essential feature in qualifications of a Speaker you alone can supply, and tbat is the support which you can give your Speaker, and the confidence you may be pleased to repose in him. Without your support, without your coofiience, without your 00-operation your Speaker must be powerless. A single individual amongst 80 member.'', bis position would be one of weakness ; but I feel that I ehall at all times receive your generous support and assistance, and therefore I submit myself to your pleasure in consenting to undertake the high and responsible duties of Speaker of the H<;uso of Representatives cf New Zsaliud. Mr Guinness was then escorted to the chnir by his proposer and' seconder. Speaking from the steps of the Speaker's chair Mr Guinne?s svd : 1 Bifore bting installed in the Speaker's chair I desire to express my ackiiowledgements to you for the honour conferred upsn me in electing me to preside over your deliberations. It will be my desire to hold the balance between parties with an impartial hand and so to administer tho rules of the House that each side shall have at my hards the fullest fair play, and it will be my en kavour at all-times to moderate the heat of debate and to s: f ten any asperities that may occasionally ati-o. I hope that all members, and especially youug members, will not be slow to avail thimselves of any information that I nny bo able to give them, for their guidance in entering upon their career as New Zealand legislators. Witji these fow remarks I again thank you for the high honour you have been pleased to confer on me." - Mr Guinness then took the Speaker's chair. The Right Hon. R, J. Seddon roee and said ho sincerely congratulated Mi Guinness upon his unanimous election | to the high position in which, he bad b;en placed. He paid a warm tribute to the impartiality of Sir M. O'Rorke in tha chair, and said he could fairly claim tbat the New Zealand Pa-lia- ; hold tho fits!. petition in rejytH [to tbo rsnduer, ol itf. business. Ho could «r.3KM> Mr Guirmnss tiiat, as f.»r as J.iyj in his power, ha would be only too'

ha; fy to asSut him and lighten hk duties'. Sir William Rus«fll, in tendering fall congratulation?, said he had seen Mr Guinresa grow in strength as Chairman of Committorgj and he had no doubt <hat eventually thfty would be eble>to **y he was rs gnat a " Speaker " al hil predecessors. Sir W. J. S eward also tendered his

he-irtiest congiatulations to Mr Guinness. Mr Witheroid spc-ka in a similar s'nin. Mr Guinness ezprersed thanu for he congratulatory remarks that bad boen passed, «nd for the o~rdi«lity and unanimity with which his election bad been agreed to. ADiOCBSMBIIt. Mr Peddon moved the adjournment of the Hiuse, intimating that U would bn necessary to pass an Imprest Supply

Bill n«zt day. Sir WillUm Russell protested against ho principle of calling Parliament together at the very last moment at which the Government wanted supply. It was against all constitutional practice and they were in a position of having to vote money about which they bad no rxplan&tion whatever. It was futile at the present stage to da more than raise his voire against the pernicious practice. Mr S«ddon said he had announoed the Imprest Supply Bill ao as not to be accuß'.d of springing a surprice on the House to-morrow. It was only daring th* bst fjw years tint the unoonstitutional practice had grown up of treating "imprest supply" in the atme manner as " general supply," and he contended it was bad precedent. He bad yet tj 1-arn that when supply came on th-re were any grievanoee to ventilate. Tbe Imprest Supply, to be asked for to-inorrow, would only be to carry on tbe country under the appropriations made last satsion. Th# Government were empowered to carry on these ci(cumgtacce>, and he atsured tbe House the Bill would be the same as that on previous occasions, via., to enable the Government to oarry on for another month under the present appropriations. The House rose at 3.40 p.m,

There was fine weather for fche opening of ParlUmeot ta-day and a Urgfl muster of rtumtfers. GOVERNMENT OiUOOtl. A Obucub of the Government part* was held this morning and lasted eIOM on two hour?. The official wpert sta'es that cnly four members of tbi patty ware absent, and their abrenot was accounted for by the fact that they had not yet arrived. The Pr.m'er siid that they hd met simply to miko each other's acquaint* ■-.nee. There were no propositi to b« submitted, but Uter on there wcu'd In a meeiit g at whioh matters would b« submitted in detail. The Governor's speech was io 6 urse of pr«p>MUoßt Members would not expect to be takes fully into the confiitnoa of the Government at this juncture. Whit had been said by the Premief to the peopla in hie lecst cpeeohe* would not bj materially altered exoept there might be some alteration! in details. The meeting discussed a Variety at matters informally, and wonnd op by passing a hearty vote of congratulations to the Pr<m'er on his retorn from Eoglacd and on bis reootd reigq as Premier.