MR. SPEAKER WILLIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1809, 23 July 1913, Page 7

MR. SPEAKER WILLIS.

HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT. RESIGNS AT THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. TILT AT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. By Tclccrapli—Press Association—Copy lifflll (liec. July 22, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, July 22. The final session of tho New South Wales Parliament was opened to-day by the State Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland, with tho usual ceremonies. Oji the reassembling of the Now South Wales State Assembly, after tho opening ceremony to-day, the Speaker (Mr. Henry Willis) caused a simmer of excitement by announcing that ho had a communication to make with regard to tho office of Speaker, and with regard to the interference in party politics of tho LieutenantGovernor, Sir William Cullen. Ho moved that tho document be printed.

After some demur on the part of tho Opposition to appoint tellers, the motion was carried. Mr. Willis thereupon, amid wild Opposition cheering, tendered his resignation of the Speakership. The Premier, Mr. Holman, then asked for a suspension of tho sitting till Parliament obtained the consent of tho Governor to proceed with the election of a new Speaker. Amid cries of .. "Resign!" and general excitement, the Houso emptied, to reassemble at seven o'clock in the evening. The document tabled by Mr. Willis traces tho events leading up to his acceptance of tho Speakership. The terms of that acceptance, ho pointed oiit, included the passing of the Redistribution of Seats Bill, and an appeal to the constituencies at the earliest date practicable. Tho Redistribution of Seats Bill was not passed till the closing hours of lest session. "This Houso," lie said, "therefore no longer represents the constituencies, tho boundaries having been altered."

His obligations (o Parliament being therefore liow discharged, ho proceeds, "tho time has now arrived when I must, report a grave abuso of constitutional practice by tho Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Cullen, during Lord Chelmsford's absence in England in 1911. While acting as Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Cnllen had officially received and conferred with, member* of thn Opposition, persons who, nineteen hours previous to this meeting with Sir William Cullen, had disgraced the Assembly by an organised effort to prevent his election as Speaker. At tho conclusion of tho interview Sir William Cullen informed tho, then ActingPremier (Mr. Holmnn) that ho would not reccive the newly-chosen Speaker. ,This attempt to cast an indignity on Parliament was averted by Cabinet informing Sir William Cullen that if lie offered a personal affront to the Speaker they would resign. Sir William Cullen then invited Mr. Holmnn officially to meet Mr. Wado (leader of the Opposition), and tlio latter proposed that the newly-cliosen Speaker should be removed from office, Mr. Wade undertaking to nominate one of his party to the office. Mr. Holman declined, and when Mr. M'Gowcn returned from England aiid resumed the Premiership, Sir William Cullen invited him to meet Mr. , Wade, when a similar proposal was made, -lfr. 'jfGoweii a/so declined."

■ The document concludes: "The Lisuten-p.nt-Gorernor carried with him from Parliament a partisan bins in favour of his old colleagues, "and consequently has shown himself unfit for tho constitutional officc of administration in a responsible Government. His partiality encouraged the Opposition in wanton abuse of me as Speaker. It is • with pain that my duty compels mo io place oh record the foregoing facts. I shall, forthwith, through the Governor, report this complaint. to the Secretary of State for tho Colonies. I now voluntarily vacate the Chair without delay, and tender my resignation of the Speakership."

AN "INDEPENDENT" CHOSEN. (Kec. July 23, 0.30 a.m.) Sydney, July 22. Mr. H. D. Morton, a member of the Independent Party, has been chosen as Speaker. The Assembly has now adjourned. GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME. (Rec. July 22, 7.30 p.m.) Sydney, July 22: The Governor's Speech announced further legislation for opening up country, and building new border and other railways, duplicating of trunk lines, an underground scheme connecting the city and North Sydney, and the erection of grain elevators, Bills to securo lower rents and workers' homes, to compel delinquent husbands in gaol (o support their, wives, and a Public Sen-ice Superannuation Bill were foreshadowed. All the powers and precautions provided for umler the existing law were being applied to suppress the outbreak of smallpox, and a Bill providing for compulsory vaccination would bo introduced at the earliest moment.