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II

After it was clear that the Ministry would be defeated, but before its resignation, Atkinson went to the Legislative Council as Speaker.¹ Rolleston had again entered Parliament as member for Halswell. It was confidently predicted on all hands that, if he desired the speakership of the Lower House, he would have no difficulty in being elected. His qualifications were outstanding owing to his long experience of Parliamentary procedure, his judicial temperament, and the fact that, for the preceding three years, he had been out of party conflict. But once again Rolleston's bad luck pursued him. The choice of a Speaker was made a party one. Perhaps it was too much to expect the Liberal party, flushed with victory after its long period in the wilderness, to yield such a prize to an Opposition member.

An old Independent Canterbury member, Mr Alfred Saunders, nominated Rolleston as Speaker, and pleaded with the House not to make it a party question. "I have seen Mr Rolleston", he said, "entrusted with duties more arduous and even more important than those of this position, and have watched him discharge them with the most general satisfaction." But his appeal fell on deaf ears. The Government put up a rival candidate in the person of Major Steward, and, on a party vote, Rolleston was beaten by thirty-six to twenty-nine votes. It would be interesting to know if the Government in later years regretted their choice, for many "scenes" occurred in the House under the weak control of Major Steward. Is there not also some irony in the fact that Rolleston's defeat was due to a strict party vote in view of the fact that he always professed himself a firm believer in party government? In this case he was slain by his own weapon.

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Hon. R. Oliver to Rolleston, 1891:

What an extraordinary session the January one was! And what an extraordinary Ministry! For your sake and for the sake of the character of Parliament, I much desired your election to the speakership. For the sake of the party, I am delighted that you still remain among the combatants. How could you, who have never "shown the white feather of a shameless life", expect to be the choice of Parliament?… I am sorry our side did not choose a leader. Putting the leadership in commission will never do. A trinity in unity cannot be secured in party strife.

Poor Atkinson's retirement to the Council is very sorrowful to think of. I hope the quiet which he will enjoy may re-establish his health and strength.

The new Ministry can hardly be considered a strong one. I should think Seddon would dominate it. I think he has more sense than all the rest. Stout will move Ballance—Buckley, Ward, and Cadman hardly count. I suppose you will have an 8 Hours Bill, a Land and Income Tax Bill, with the progressive principle, or want of principle, carried a little further than Atkinson proposed to go with it.