PRESS AND PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 92, 4 September 1912, Page 5

PRESS AND PARLIAMENT.

MR. WILLIS EIGHT AND WRONG. THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE. By Cable—Press Arsociation —Copyright. Sydney, September 3. The Government has decided on its course of action with regard to the .W illis incident. Sir. McGowm made a Statement tlu;t so i. r the Speaker's complaint against the Telegraph was based on the reports concerning the expulsion of Mr. Cohen and the leader thereon. The Government was entirely in •ympathy with him and was unanimously of opinion that the report in question ■was misleading and the comments in the leader utterly nnsuited to the attitude of a respectable journal towards the head of a deliberative Assembly, but when the Speaker deals with the matter by excluding the representatives we hold that he has adopted the wrong remedy. The proper way to deal with this question is by a Privileges Bill which we will proceed with shortly. The Government does not favor excluding the press, particularly that section hostile to the Government policy. If Mr. Willis is unwilling, as Speaker, to readmit the Telegraph's representatives the Government will so amend the standing orders as to bring this question under the direct control of the House and then itself move to readmit. Sir. Holman explains that the Privileges Bill permits the House to authorise the prosecution in the law courts of anyone committing a breach of the privileges of Parliament, the prosecution to be adjudicated on by the ordinary tribunals. Commenting on the statement, the Telegraph says Mr. McGowen had had to make some concession to the 6peaker, but when he says what appeared in the Telegraph was unworthy of respectable journalism, he makes a statement as to the foundation of which in justice and common-sense we shall trust the public judgment. The Ministry is to be congratulated on asserting, however tardily, the rights with which no Government should part. A TEMPORISING POLICY. Sydney, September 3. The Herald says: "A temporising note is observable in the latest development of the Willis incident, which only tends to make matters worse. If a paper offends, the necessary power already exists for dealing with it. The Government says of the present trouble that Mr. Willis is right and wrong. Until the censure motion is disposed of nothing can be done, and a manifest wrong will be allowed to continue." MR. WILLIS STILL OBDURATE. "THE PUTTY NAPOLEON." Received 3, 9.50 p.m. Sydney, September 3. Despite the Government's announcement regarding Mr. Willis' exclusion order when the reporters presented themselves at the House the Daily Telegraph representatives were debarred from entering the Press gallery. Asked for an explanation. Sir. Willis replied, "I have no statement to make." When the Speaker took the chair, Sir. Levien asked Sir. Willis what action he intended to take with reference to the exclusion of the Press and the Government's intention to amend the standing orders. Sir. Willis replied that he had acted strictly in accordance with the standing orders. Until the House gave further directions he would continue

to do so. Dr. Arthur called attention to the newspaper "Sun's" article referring to the reporters' exclusion, headed "The Putty Napoleon comes to his AYaterloo," and moved that the editor of the Sun be brought before the bar of the House. The Speaker put the question that the clerk be allowed to read extracts from the article. This was negatived and the matter was dropped. Received 3, 11.15 p.m. Sydney. September 3. The galleries were crowded to-night and the House was simmering with goodnatured excitement. There was much bantering of Air. Willis. who was bombarded with questions regarding the expulsions. Mr. AA'ade asked if it were a fact that the Telegraph reporters were not in their places in the House. Mt. AA'illis said he was not personally acquainted with the members of that staff. He certainly did not see any of those gentlemen there. In reply to Air. AA'ade's enquiry if he had withdrawn the order of exclusion, Mr. Willis said that he was not answeriny any questions on that subject today. Mr. Willis' attention was again drawn to the Sun article. Amid loud laughter, Mr. Willis said. "The only paper 1 read is the Daily Telegraph." Mr. Levien gave notice of motion to move to-morrow that owing to the disfavor with which members view the exclusion of the Telegraph reporters' peace and order is seriously disturbed, and the Hou*e therefore desires to intimate to the Speaker his retirement from the Speakership to enable the House to make such arrangements as will guarantee peace and order and a due recognition of the authority of the chair. Air. AA'ade then moved his want of confidence motion. He attacked the Government for allowing a member to occupy office to his profit. This was a technical breach of the law and an attempt by the Government to secure the silence of a member who might be troublesome. The Government understood that Mr. Nielsen's pushing of his leasehold policy was dangerous, and to prevent party divisions it was decided to sacrifice him by getting him away to America. Received 4. 12.45 a.m. Sydney. September 3. Mr. Holman replied that there had been no concealment of Air. Nielsen's appointment. AATiy did not Atr. AVade move when Air. Nielsen visited America before? The idea that the Government had to buy Air. Nielsen's loyalty wa9 gratuitously offensive to him and unjust to the Alinisters. He denied that he accepted office for profit. The Government proposes to divide before the House rises and anticipates a majority of about two.