MR. WILLIS'S RULE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1538, 6 September 1912, Page 5

MR. WILLIS'S RULE

HIS CLAWS TO BE DRAWNNEW STANDING ORDERS IN SYDNEY. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS. By Telograpa-Pross Aeßociatlon-OopyriEhl (Itec. September G, 0.35 a.m.) Sydney, September 5. The galleries of tho Legislative Assembly woro crowded to-day when the AttorneyGeneral, Mr. Iloliunn, moved his motion taking tho power of excluding the pi-ess out of tho hands of tho Speaker and placing it in tho hands of the House. Ho explained that tho new order gave the Speaker power to provide what accommodation ho liked in tho galleries, but tho exclusion of tho press would be left to ' tho Houso itself. It had become apparent that an amendment was necessary. Tho Government bad readied that conclusion without any disrespect to the Speaker, There had been occasions when a member had moro to complain about than tho distorted form of news given to tho public, but tho new Standing' Order would enable the House to protect itself from mutilation of reports. An animated debate took place on the Speaker's action, which was oriticised, and the newspapers championed. An amendment was carried to the Standing Order, enabling tho Speaker to put the question after a debate of at least thirty minutes, instead of wlien lie pleased, as previously provided by tho Standing Order. The debate is unfinished.