AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 112, 27 September 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS.

SPEAKER WILLIS AGAIN. By CaWe—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, September 2C.

In the Assembly the Speaker adjudged Messrs. Cohen and Fitzpatrick guilty of insolence. Mr. Cohen was suspended for the sitting, but Mr. Fitzpatrick left before Mr. Willis was able to take action, defying him to bring him back. When the Chairman of Committees displaced Mr. Willis, Mr. Fitzpatrick triumphantly re-entered.

THE DEFENCE OF THE PACIFIC. Melbourne, September 2G. Mr. Fisher, in reply to a question, expressed delight at 3kfr. Allen's reference to the Pacific. It indicated a state of mind and policy very closely in touch with Australia's naval defence policy, and was evidence of a desire for full co-operation in the South Pacific, which he believed expressed almost entirely the mind of Australia. He added that the Imperial Government was desirous of seeing a strong naval force in this part of the world, leaving them to attend to matters more near them, and near to us all.

In the House, during the maternity bonus debate, the Oppositionists argued that the Bill was a political placard to help the elections. The Senate has resumed ite sittings after a month's spell.

THE HOUSING PROBLEM. Sydney, September 26. In the Assembly, Mr. Griffith an: nounced that the Government proposed to meet the shortage of houses in the city by erecting a hundred wooden dwellings.

the House granted two months' suj* ply after strong criticisms of the Government for its ever increasing expenditure.