N.S.W. POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 5

N.S.W. POLITICS.

fr ACTION AGAINST SPEAKER. VERDICT IN PLAINTIFFS FAVOUR. By TeleeraDh—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. Novembor 17, 7.30 p.m.) Sydney, November 17. The Pull Court upheld tho demurrer raised by tho plaintiff in the ca6o of I'erry (ex-Ministcr for Agriculture), a member of tho Legislative Assembly, against Mr. Speaker Willis and tho Ser-goant-at-Arms for assault and wrongful imprisonment, arising out of tho recent scenes in the Assembly. The defendants pleaded not guilty, and held that any action taken was for tho purpose of preserving order and maintaining tho Standing Orders. Plaintiff demurred against tho second plea, claiming that it disclosed no justification for being brought back to the House in custody and detained. The Court held that the Speaker was merely acting in the capacity of chairman of a meeting, and possessed no positivo power. The cause of the disorder Raving been removed by tho plaintiff leaving the House, the Speaker had no power to bring him back, which Mr. Justice Pring characterised ns an "extraordinary deprivation of a man's liberty." On August 29, when Parliament met, several members' of tho Opposition, in pursuance of their threat to defy the Speaker (Mr. Willis), in order to test tho validity of his election, remained seated when the Speaker entered, and tho other members rose. Mr. Wade, Leader of the Opposition, drew attention to the report of tho recent debate in Hansard. The. Speaker immediately ordered him to resume his seat. Mr. Perry, ex-Minister for Agriculture, angrily left the Chamber, calling on loyal members to follow him. As Mr. Perry did not how to tho Speaker, the Scrgeant-at-Arms was directed by Mr. Willis to bring him back. On September 4 a writ was issued on behalf of Mr. Perry, claiming £1000 damages for assault, against the Speaker and Sergeant-at-Arms.