SPEAKER WILLIS INCIDENT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8, 3 September 1912, Page 5

SPEAKER WILLIS INCIDENT

A X OF FJC fA L COXFERE NCE. Sydney, September 2. Mr. McGowen, Mr. Holinan, and Mr Willis held a lengthy cohfei-ence. At the conclusion, Mr. McGowen informed the pressmen that he had nothing to say until a Cabinet meeting to-mor-row. RESULT OF THE CONFERENCE. THE WRONG REMEDY. THE TELEGRAPH'S COMMENT. (Received 3, 9.80 a.m.) Sydney, September 3. The Government has decided its course of action in the Speaker Willis incident. Mr McGowen made a statement that so far the Speaker's com-

plaint against tihe "Telegraph" was based on reports concerning the expulsion of Cohen and the Leader. Thereon the Government was entire];, in sympathy with him, and were unanimous of opinion that the report in question was misleading. The comments in the leader were utterly unsuited to the attitude of a respect able journal towards the head deliberative Assembly, but.' wThen the Speaker deals with the matter by excluding representatives of the paper', we hold that ho adopted .|a wrong remedy. The' proper way' 'to deal with this question is by the Privileges Bill, which [jtve will proceed with shortly. The £,qycrnmc:;t is not in

favour of excluding tibe press, particularly that" section h.isttie to the Government policy. If Mr Willis is unwilling to' readmit the. "Telegraph" representatives, the Government will so amepd the standing orders as to bring this question under the! direct control of the House: then itsalf will move to readmit the pirf-s. Mr Holman qjrphiins (jfc&]Povileges Bill which permits tihe House to authorise the *n the low

courts on anyone committing a breach of the privileges of Parliamimt. Tim prosecution will be adjudicated under ordinary tribunals.

Commenting, the "Telegraph," says: Mr McGowen had made some concession for the Speaker, but when he says that wlhiat appeared in t'lio"Telegraph" was unworthy of respectable journalism, bo makes a statement as '■o the foundation whereof in justice and oommonsen.se, wo shall trust to public judgment. The Ministry is to bo congratulated on asserting, howover tardily, ite rights, wherewith no Government should part." OPINION OF THE HERALD. A MANIFEST WRONG CONTINUES. (Received 3, 10.50 a.m.) Sydney, September 3. The Herald says that the temporising note observable in the latest development of tlhie Willis incident only tends to make matters worse. If a paper offends, the necessary power already exists for dealing therewith. The Government says of the present trouble Mr Willis is right and wrong, and until the censure motion is disposed of notbing can be done. A manifest

wrong cannot be allowed to continue