The Dominion. THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1913. MR WILLIS CAUSES A CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 24 July 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1913. MR WILLIS CAUSES A CRISIS.

The resignation by Mr. Senry Willis of the Speakership of the New South Wales Parliament _ has produced a very interesting situation. The event was not altogether unexpected, for in a recent speech he stated that though-he would-take the Chair at the opening of Parliament, it remained to be seen how long he would remain there. He went on to say that now that the redistribution of scats had been completed his compact with the Government was at an end, and he was free to do as he pleased. This notorious compact provided that the Government was not to bring in any Socialistic legislation nor anything oontcntious nor anything the Liberal party disapproved of, that there should not be a dissolution until the redistribution of seats was complete, and then there was to be a general election, and there should be no sitting after midnight. The degradation of Parliamentary procedure in New South Wales which resulted from this agreement is well known. Mr. Willis proved to be one of the most autocratic Speakers that ever presided over a British representative assembly. He ruled with a rod of iron, which often caused ' extreme irritation to the Government side of the Home, and drove his former colleagues on the Opposition benches into open revolt. Violent scenes and ejccUons Vieetovw fYcqttent. Ths .Speaker would brook no interference the exevcise ot his avtotvtvYy will, and parties were so evenly divided that the Ministerialists did not dare to remove him from his high position. In view of the impossibility of carrying on the business of the country in a normal and becoming manner, tho Govern- , ment should navo asked for f disso-

lution long ago; but Ministers preferred to sacrifice their own selfrespect and the dignity of Parliament, and have been clinging desperately to office ever since. A crisis has now occurred, and onco more Mr. Willis is for the moment tho central figure in the political drama. He considers that Parliament should have been dissolved as soon as tho Redistribution of Seats Bill had been passed. The Government, however, seems anxious to postpone the appeal to the country until tho last possible moment, ancl in view of this_ policy of procrastination, Mr. Willis has decided that the conipact must be ended. The Labour party is certainly in an awkward corner. A few days ago they made a desperate effort to capture the Wollondilly seat, but the Liberal candidate was returned by a large majority. A victory at Wollondilly would have given the Government a legitimate majority,,however small itmighu be; but when it failed its existence was made to depend on Mr. Willis or Mr. Beeby. An Independent member, Mr. H. D. Morton, has now been appointed to the Speakership. The cablegrams do not make it quite clear how this appointment will affect the strength of parties, but if Mr. WiLLis~should now cast his vote with the Liberals, as he probably will, it is doubtful whether the Government will be able to avert defeat.

. Mr. Willis is certainly right in his contention that Parliament should bo dissolved. Indeed, it should have been dissolved long ago. As the Sydney Morning Herald points out, the present position is a peculiar one.' The Wollondilly byclection was the last under the old distribution of seats, and the present Legislative Assembly "does not now represent New South Wales either in law or equity. Legally, no doubt, the Government is entitled, to hang on while the pretence of a majority can bo kept up." The Parliament does not expire in the ordinary course until the end of the year, and the general election may possibly be deferred till then. This seems to bo the intention of Ministers, but Mr. Willis's resignation may force their hands, and an appeal to the people may now take place at a much earlier date. The very fact that tho Labour party have resorted to so many and such desperate expedients to postpone their "day of judgment" at the ballot-box may be taken as a reliable indication that they fear an adverse verdict. The Liberal victory in New South Wales in connection with the recent Federal election points in the same direction, and makes it at least probable that the Liberals will repeat their triumph at the State polling booths. It is generally understood that when the trial of strength comes the country districts are going to play a very important part, and this fact should increase the Opposition's chances of success. The chronic state of industrial unrest during the Labour regime, the tyranny of tho secret caucus, and the enormous growth of public expenditure are all telling against the Government. However, there are other factors to be taken into consideration, and it is impossible_ to foretell the result of tho coming election with anything like certainty. All that can be safely said is that the Liberals appear to have improved their position in the country, and unless something unforeseen occurs, they have very good prospects of turning the Labour Government out of office.