DEATH IN OFFICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1943, Page 4

DEATH IN OFFICE

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS CAPTAIN E. A. FITZROY. MILITARY & OTHER SERVICE. LONDON, March 3. The Speaker of the House ol‘ Commons, Captain the Rt ' Hon Edward A. Fitzroy, M.P. for Daventry, died today after having been ill for a fortnight. lie was 73 years of • age. It is over 150 years since a Speaker of the House of Commons has died in office. Captain Fitzroy had been Speaker of the House of Commons since June, 1928. On the motion of Mr Anthony Eden, the House of Commons adjourned for several days as a mark of respect to the late Speaker. The election of a new Speaker will be the first business when the House resumes. The late Captain Fitzroy was a son of the third Baron Southampton, and was formerly Page of Honour to Queen Victoria. He served in the Ist Life Guards in the European War of 1914-18. He was wounded in the first battle of Ypres. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1900 and was Deputy Chairman of Committees from 1922 to 1928. SPECIAL BILL NEEDED TO MEET SITUATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, March 3. The “Evening Standard” reports that Mr Churchill presided at a hurriedly summoned Cabinet meeting to consider the difficulty over the death of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Captain Fitzroy. A special Bill will probably have to be rushed through to meet the situation, which may otherwise result in an indefinite adjournment of Parliament. The Press Association says no Act-ing-Speaker will be elected. A message from his Majesty at the next meeting of the House will ask menN bers of the Commons to elect a Speaker. This will be done immediately, without the necessity of members being resworn.