PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 June 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

OPENING OF THE SESSION. ELECTION OP THE SPEAKER. SIR FREDK. LANG RE-APPOINTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The first session of the twentieth Parliament of New Zealand was opened this afternoon by commission. Members of the House of Representatives assembled at 2.30, and were summoned by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (Mr. H. Bothamley) to attend the Legislative Council to hear, the Governor-General's commission read. On their arrival in the Council Chamber the Speaker (the Hon. W. JF. C. Carncross) announced that he had received His Excellency's commission appointing the following as his commis:sioners to open the formal business: Hon. W. P. C. Carncross (Speaker of the Legislative Council), Sir Francis Bell, Sir Wm. Eraser, Sir Walter Buchanan, and the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy. The Speaker then called on the Clerk of Parliament (Mr. A. P. Lowe) to read the commission. This done the Speaker announced that the Governor-General would attend at 2.30 to-morrow, and would then deliver his speech. Meantime members of the House of Repre' sentatives were desired to elect a Speaker. Members of the House then returned to the Representative Chamber, and after being sworn in, proceeded to the election of a Speaker. Mr. George Hunter moved that Sir Frederick Lang be elected Speaker. Mr. Hunter said the House had many eminent Speakers in its history, but none had a better record than Sir Frederick Lang for impartiality and strict attention to Parliamentary duties. Mr. L. M. Isitt seconded, and after expressing appreciation of Sir Frederick Lang's qualities and impartiality, added that 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 nomination was made, and Sir Frederick Lang, speaking from his member's seat, expressed hid appreciation of the honor members proposed to confer upon him. He had been a member of the House for twenty-seven years, and had always maintained that when elected he was a 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 felt it his duty to act with strict justice and impartiality towards all members in the House. Sir Frederick Lang was then conducted to the Speaker's chair by his supporters, and from that place thanked members for placing him for the thirl time in the highest position in their gift. The Prime Minister congratulated? th» Speaker on his election, and mentioned that during the past forty years his seat —Manukau—had supplied the Speaker for 27 years. Sir Maurice O'Rorke and Sir Frederick Lang had divided this period, and during the other thirteen years Sir William Steward and Sir Arthur Guinness had presided. Mr. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Leader of the Opposition, endorsed the Premier's remarks, and added his congratulations to Mr. Kane on his appointment to the position of clerk. The House, on the Premier's motion, adjourned &t 3.20 till 2.30 to-morrow. A CHANGED HOUSE. STRENGTH! OF REFORM PARTY. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. To-day'a proceedings in Parliament were almost entirely formal. The appearaneo of the House has changed considerably since last session. The Reform Party is a solid phalanx on the Speaker's right, and contains many new faces. It overflows into the left cross benches, where the enlarged Labor Party makes quite a formidable showing. Two of the Labor members, Messrs. McCombs and Sullivan, have moved into front benches—the first time their Party has appeared in such a position. The reduced Liberal Opposition on the Speaker's left lacks several of its members, including Messrs. Myers and Wilford. Mr. Statham (Dunedin Cential), who was elected originally as a Reformer, and subsequently announced himself an Independent, has taken a seat on the back Opposition benches, The real business of the session will begin on Tuesday, when an Imprest Supply Bill will be introduced.