COMMONWEALTH POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1308, 11 December 1911, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH POLITICS.

NEWSPAPERS AND ELECTION NEWS. By TelceraDh—Press Association-Oopyrtehl Melbourne, December 9. The FcdeTal House of Bepresentatives after a thirty-six hours' sitting, passet the second reading of the Electoral Bill A clause vras provisionally inserted re quiring all articles, paragraphs, and re ports appearing in a newspaper and deal ing with election matters, to have thi name and address of the writers attached under a penalty of £sf>. The Bill does not provide for posta volinj. BANKING BILL OPPOSED. Perth, December 8. The State Labour party ndopted a r« solution against tho Federal Bankin Bill, believing that such a bank woul< seriously interfere with the financial ai raugcmenls and development of the Stall

MR. WILLIS'S BARGAIN. . 4 CURIOUS POSITION IN N.S. WALES, HAVE THE TERMS BEEN KEPT? Qj TeleeraDb-Press Association-CoDyriEM Sydney, December 9. Iα the Legislative Assembly, the Speaker, Mr. Willis, tabled correspondence between himself and the Government v.itli regard to bis retention of office. It will bo remembered that Mr. Willis, a Liberal member, by accepting tho SpeakenAip, gave the Labour Government a sufficient margin to carry on. Mr. Willis, in a letter to Mr. M'Gowcn, tho Premier, now points out that his arrangement with tho Government provided that no contentious legislation should bo introduced, and urged that tho liicomo Tax Bill was tho most contentious. The agreement also provided that the Estimates should be passed on the basis of Supply already granted, whereas they show- a largo increase. Mr. M'Gowen, in his reply, fays Mr. Willis agreed to reopen tho arrangement with tho Government in the event of contingencies to tho situation arising, and adds that tho Government alone is the judge of the financial necessities of tho State, and is bound to proceed with, tho taxation proposals. Mr. Willis, in a final fetter, declares that his acceptance of the Speakership was prompted by good motives, and that he will adhere to tho basis of the understanding; between himself and the Government.