A POLITICAL " LION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1622, 13 December 1912, Page 10

A POLITICAL " LION.

SPEAKER WILLIS IN MELBOURNE. Mr. Speaker Willis's recent visit ■ to Melbourne, if one is to judge from accounts published in recent Australian papers, appears to have been something more or less in the nature of a lionised "celebrity" tour. Hero is how the Melbourne reporter'■ of Jthe "Sydney Daily Telegraph" described'his'impressions of tho visit of this political "lion":— : A sensation was created in the House of Representatives to-night (this was a week ago yesterday) by the sudden appearance of Mr. Willis, the Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Mr. Willis entered' by the backdoor—so unliko his usual methods —and was promptly accommodated within a roped-in enclosure. A shudder went .round the Opposition benches as he took iiis seat. Mr. Willis was, however, found to be perfectly harmless.. He sat quietly, in. a far-off corner. . . A band of Labour members rushed over to hiiii, and shook him vigorously by the hand;. Then he was grasped hold of by the Speaker, Mr.'M'Donald, and taken to the Speaker's room. When the two Speakers had exchanged views and reminiscences in private. .Mr. Willis was es--corted back to the roped-in' little square in the corner of the Chamber. Another body of Labour members surrounded him. Mr. Willis created all the interest-'nnd excitement of a -political-curiosity. But' he did not seem quite at home.'' ■ Tho atmosphere was.too.peaceful. . Not a single member was thrown out while he was present. ■■•-.' Mr. Willis was interviewed after his visit to the Chamber. "When I_ became Speaker," he said, "the Oppositionists were like cubs. I. left'them like lambs. I think they are all well trained now, and fit to 1» Sunday-school teachers." When he was askcdklor ,'an opinion, as to the prospect of the'parties at the next Stnto election, he said:—"'! think there will be changes, but when it is all over I thinkjthe balance will rest, with me. , ; In other words, I think there will be a majority of one." • For tho Government? he, was asked.' "No," he replied, with a seraphic smile, "I think it will b-s in my hands, and as I am a non-party Inan, I shall continue to .govern the country.. The country is ,Bafe if I have tho balance of power. There is no doubt about that." .

"Da I intend to seek're-election for the Upper Hunter? Certainly. You know, I was the. only man who won a , seat' against the Labour party at tho last .election. lam the only Liberal left; in fact, I am a progressive radical. .1 always., have been. In a recent public utterance Mr. Joseph Cook advised the people of his.electorate to send me back'to the Federal Parliament. Seeing that his electorate has been cut in two, lie evidently wishes me to stand for the part that lie will not represent in future. I don't intend to take advantage of his offer." ~ . Mr. explained.that in asking for. an increase of salary, for the Speakership lib wa.s not'thinking of himself, but of his successor. "I was desirous," he said, "that the salary of the Speaker should be.l restored to what it originally was, but 1 was anxious to know the feeling of the House on the matter. My predecessor did not have sufficient courage to bring the matter forward, but. I did not have any compunction of the kind, especially as the salary was not what it was in Sir Joseph Abbott's day. I was not anxiousthat tho increase should be provided in my own case. I had in view the position, of my successor. " ~'".. "1 have not bothered about the abuse, which has been showered' upon me by members of the Opposition. I have got them down pretty well now," he added. "Ona man who has been nipst persistent in his abuse of me for my acceptance of the Speakership had tho offer of the position placed in his own hands,, and ho was so inclined to accept it that he asked for three hours so that he might consider it. That is the kind of man that has been abusing mo bo much. "I took the position," he continued, "for the sole purpose of seeing that responsible Government was re-established, and the principle maintained that, before there was an appeal to the country, there should be a redistribution of seats. I have remained to see the redistribution accomplished. I was a very happy man when it was passed, for that was my sole ambition. I was afraid that something would have happened, and that my ( scheme might have toppled over. I could not leave until it had taken place, for had I done so my work would have been abortive." While Mr. Willis stood talking, in Queen's Hall he was the subject' of excited interest to members, the publ!*," and the officials. People peered through the passages, and gathered in groups at various points of vantage, and exclaimed, "That's Willis." Mr. Willis did not seem at all displeased at tho amount of attention that he was receiving. He said that he had come to Melbourne primarily to consult an oculist.