PRESS AND PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 89, 31 August 1912, Page 5

PRESS AND PARLIAMENT.

' A TYRANNOUS SPEAKER. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Sydney, August 30. In the Assembly Mr. McGowen was heckled with questions as to Mr. Neilsen's appointment. He replied that Mr. Neilsen had been offered the Trade Coniluissionersliip in Amtrica, and he would decide whether 'to accept it within a month or two. If he accepted the post he would be paid the salary of the office. Mr. Wade gave notice of motion on Tuesday that the appointment of Mr. Neilsen and the payment of money to him was a violation of the constitution, deserving censure. On the motion of Mr. McGowen. the Bouse adjourned till Tuesday. The Herald predicts that owing to Mr. Xeilsen's absence, and the attitude some members of the party are likely to adopt over the exclusion of reporters, the Government will find itself in an awkward fix. A motion stopped a representative of the gas companies appearing in the House to appeal against the Gas Bill. The lobbies simmered with excitement when it was known that Mr. Willis intended to exclude the reporters. As they presented themselves they were asked io show their tickets, and the representatives of the offending journal were turned away. As soon as Mr. Willis took his seat he and the Premier were subjected to a hot cross-fire. Mr. Willis referred the interrogators to the sergeant, who held his instrue<o act. An excited scene followed, in which the exclusion was characterised as a disgrace and an act of barbarity. Mr. Willis silenced members by ruling them out of order, and adding that if he saw strangers in the gallery he would have them removed. Ministers were reticent, but after consultation Mr. McGowen informed a press representative that Mr. Willis' action came as a surprise. A good many things Mr. Willis had done had surprised him. this more than anything else. He declined to express an opinion on the situation. MORE ABOUT WILLIS. Sydney, August 30. The Herald, commenting on Mr. Willis's action, says: "We venture to say that nothing in the history of Parliaments of Australia or Britain has happened in connection with the press like the treatment meted out to our contemporary. We have to deal with a Speaker who holds the Government in thrall, whose word and nod apparently is allowed to turn the State upside down. It is time the people took a hand and asserted their powers." THE SUPPRESSED JRESS. Sydney. August 30. The Telegraph, commenting on the exclusion of its reporters, says: "Amongst all the surprising things Mr. Willis has done, this is the most- surprising, and indicates how far the Speaker would go in suppressing criticism if he had the power. So far as this journal is concerned. no right can be admitted on the part of the Speaker to exercise a censorship on anv reports or comments on public a flairs the press may feel called upon to publish. Mr. Willis's rule has led to a state of Parliamentary demoralisation tending to make the name of our Legislature a by-word in the mouth of the people." THE SPEAKER EXPLAINS. A NEW ZEALAND PRECEDENT. Received 30, 9.20 p.m. Sydney, August 30. Mr. Willis, in a statement to the press, said that this country suffered from the usurpation of authority which the press exercised over the representatives of the people. In exercise of his duty as Speaker, he must be fearless. Irrespective of parties, order and discipline must be enforced, as freedom of speech was not unbridled oratory. He quotes a communication from the New Zealand Hansard office, supporting the authority of the Speaker over the admission to the press gallery. The writer recalls that Sir M. O'Rourke excluded the gallery and Parliamentary precincts to a reporter who. when a member asked if he had a right to be in the members' lobby, replied: "If you are a messenger put a uniform on before addressing me." The writer says that there were other cases whereof he had no personal knowledge, including the exclusion of a newspaper correspondent for reflecting upon members in his news. Mr. Willis concludes: "The New Zealand precedent shows that the press must not presume to ride roughshod over the Speaker." A CABINET MEETING. Received 31, 1.8 a.m. Sydney, August 30. Cabinet met this afternoon to consider the position created by the motion of censure and the Speaker's exclusion of the Telegraph's reporters. There was a further meeting to-night, but the result has not transpired.