PRESS AND PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 94, 6 September 1912, Page 5

PRESS AND PARLIAMENT.

MORE OF MR. WILLIS. THE GOVERNMENT TRAPPED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 5, 9.10 p.m. Sydney, September 5. The Government was caught napping over Dr. Arthur's Herald article motion, and fell into a trap set by the Opposition. The debate was farcical, and was treated as a huge jest. Mr. McGowen was badly angered at being trapped. Speaker took revenge by ruling the division frivolous, thereby'limiting »t« entry in the records to a bare mention of defeat. The gist of the Gas Company's counsel's addresses in the Assembly was that the Bill would inflict a grievous wrong on investors, and deprive them of property lawfully acquired. Counsel complained that they were deprived of their main argument because Mr. Willis would not allow them to make a comparison with English legislation. Mr. McGowen unavailingly appealed to Mr. Willis to allow the counsel latitude. Mr. Willis silenced interjecting members by a threat of Temoval. A HOSTILE MOTION. Received 6, 12.35 a.m. Sydney, September 5. The Assembly galleries were crowded to-night when Mr. Holman moved a motion taking the power of excluding the Pfess out of the hands of the Speaker and placing it in the hands of the House! He explained that the new order gave Wie Speaker power to provide for what Accommodation he liked in the galleries, but the exclusion of the Press was left to the House itself. It had, he said. become apparent that an amendment was necessary. The Government had reached that conclusion without any disrespect to the Speaker. There had been ocasions when members had more to •omplain about the distorted form of Dews given to the public, but the new ■landing order would enable the House to protect itself. An animated debate ensued, the Speaker's action being criticised and the newspapers championed. An amendment was carried enabling the Speaker to put the question after a debate of at least 30 minutes, instead of when he pleased as previously provided by the standing orders. The debate was unfinished.