A STRINGENT LAW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 5

A STRINGENT LAW.

ELECTIONS AND PUBLICITY*

By Tcleeraph-PießS A6sociation-Copyrliht Melbourne, July 19. A Bill to amend tho Referendum Act has been introduced in tho Federal House by tho Labour Ministry. It provides for the abolition of postal voting , . Organisations spending money in support or in opposition to any law submitted to tho referendum must make a- return of such expenditure. Similarly newspapers must supply roturns of advertisements and articles intended or calculated to affect the result of a referendum, with the payments received therefore. Penalties for untrue returns, or failure to make them, rango from £50 to .£SOO, with an alternativeof six mouths' imprisonment. All articles commenting on the issue involved must be signed. For supplying materia! inducements to influence votes or for giving or receiving bribes, a. penalty of .£2OO is fixed, with the alternative of a year's imprisonment. MR. WILLIS FOLLOWS SUIT. (Rec. July 19, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, July 19. The latest departure of Mr. Speaker Willis, of the State Legislative Assembly is -to issue tickets of admission to the Parliamentary Press Gallery himself, instead of as previously in conjunction with a committee of pressmen. Mr. Willis says ho intends to expel from the gallery all persons wilfully misrepresenting tho proceedings of Parliament or libelling members.

MB, WILLIS AND THE CLERKS. Most people in political circles (says tho Sydney "Telegraph") thought that the trouble created by Mr. Willis (Speaker , of the Assembly) in connection with the Parliamentary Staff had blown over, and that no one would be sacrificed. Moro especially was this thought because the Government took a strong stand, and looked like dealing with Mr. Willis. It will bo remembered that the Premier sent the matter on to the Crown law officers, and that finally the AttorneyGeneral and the Minister for Justice were instructed to (prepare legal opinions, on which the Premier eaid tho Government would act. Just when everyone thought that the storm was about to burst over Mr. Willis's head one. of the Ministry saw him quietly "in his ivom." Shortly afterwards Mr. Willis went on a holiday visit, and tho general idea was that the Speaker was adopting a graceful way out, and that nothin? further would bo heard of the proposed dismissals. Mr. Willis, if he ever did think, of being influenced by tho quiet Ministerial talk, has evidently thought hotter of it. Three clerks, whom Mr. Willis 6ees no employmemt for, have been reminded that they were to retire on Juno 31). They have not retired, and Mr. Willis is insisting that billets should bs found for them elsewhere in the service. The position is interesting; Shortly the Government is to meet Parliament. It cannot afford to quarrol with Mr. Willis yet, as his retirement from the Chair and the election of a Labour Speaker would leave numbers equal again. Doubtless Mr. Willis feels tho full strength of his position. On present appearances it looks na if the Government will havo to (rive in, although tho Premier stated emphatically recently that the three clerks would not be sacrificed. The real w>lnt is, will tho Government obey Mr. Willis, and trans? fer them?