The new Parliament was opened on Tuesday by Royal Commission,
the only business transacted being the election of the Speaker. Sir Wilfrid Lawson in moving that Mr. Lowther "do take the Chair in the House as Speaker" summed up his qualifications in a phrase so happily worded as to deserve quoting in full. "First of all, he has the sense of proportion, which makes public life attractive; second, he has a sense of humour, which makes public life tolerable ; and third, and best of all, he has common-sense, which makes public life successful; or, as an old poet says, he has good sense, which is alone the gift of Heaven.'" Mr. Stuart- Wortley in seconding the Motion enlarged on the increasingly arduous nature of the office of Speaker, and the greater powers and responsibility with which that office is now entrusted. After Mr. Lowther had acknowledged the tributes of his proposer and seconder, and thanked the House for the honour they had done him, he was cordially congratulated by the Premier on his re-election. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman observed that, whatever divisions existed in the House, they were all united in the confidence that Mr. Lowther would not only maintain regularity in their proceedings, but would support the traditions and dignity of the House and preserve it from any encroachment on the part of external authority, from any wayward action on the part of individuals, and lastly, as occasion might require, from the House itself. Mr. Akers- Douglas having endorsed the Prime Minister's congratulations, Mr. Beir Hardie, on behalf of the Labour Members, added a few words in which he expressed his conviction that the rights of minorities and of individual Members might be left with confidence and safety in the Speaker's hands.
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