PANDEMONIUM IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1221, 1 September 1911, Page 5

PANDEMONIUM IN PARLIAMENT.

HOW MR. WILLIS WAS ELECTED. EXTRAORDINARY SCENES. Tho Australian newspapers to hand this week nre filled with accounts of the recent extraordinary scenes in the New South Wales Legislative 'Assembly, in connection with the election of Mr. Willis to the Speakership.' Mr. Willis, an Optositionist member, strongly against tiio wishes of his party, accepted tho nomination for the Speakership, and gave tho Government a majority of one. • Tho House sat all night on Wednesday and on Thursday. When Mr. Arthur had concluded his speech at 7.30 a.m., Mr. Thrower, on the Government side, and Mr. Cohen, from tho Opposition benches, rose to continue tho debate. Mr. Thrower got the call. He advanced to the table, and proceeded to pour out a glass of water. | Government members instantly rose and began to' call out, "Mr. Willis! Mr. Willis!" and that member, to whose side his nominator and seconder had already moved, started to walk towards tho Chair, escorted by the two -members mentioned. Before he had reached , the table, however, Mr. Cohen had again risen, and addressed Mr. Mowle, tho Clerk, who im- j mediately pointed . to', the member for Petersham, thus putting him in possession of tho lloor. Mr.,Willis, with his escorts, continued to advance towards the Chair, however, and ultimately seated himself in 1 "it. amid a scene of'-indescribablo confusion. . Everybody in the Housb was on his feet, shouting and protesting. Above the din could be heard tho voice of Mr. Cohen addressing Mr. Mowle. Other voices said, "Traitors," "Disgraceful , tricksters,' "Judas," and tho like. Pandemonium was ■ let loose. Standing by the side of the raised Chair, Mr. Onslow said "Judas! Judas! Judas!" with increasing vehemence, whilst 4 Mr. Minahan, from the other side bawled, with equal emphasis, "You low blackguards!" All members were standing on the floor of tho House, and the hlore Mr. Cohen tried to raise his voice, the more did the rank and file hoot, howl, and moan, making, indeed, any noise that should droivn the voice of Mr Cohen. Meanwhilo something was happening at the Speaker's chair. Nobody could hear .what was going on, but Mr. Willis said something, though his words could not bp distinguished. He then left the Chamber in tho direction of the Speaker's room, Govornment members. The House had adjourned. On resuming later, members, .while waiting for the return of, Mr. Willis from his presentation to tho Lieutenant-Gover-nor, had been filling up time by a,wordy warfare, some of which betokened the bitterness existing between the two sides of the House. "Bring in the bogus.Speaker," shouted Mr. Terry. "Bring in tho Speaker —Judas Iscariot," chimed in Mr. Fitzpatrick. Mr. Onslow: Tho Speaker is worthy of the Government. Mr. Edden (in good humour): Are you all ready? One, two, three. Mr. Miller: Bring tho traitor in. Mr. Fitzpatrick: He has gone to hang himself. Mr. Miller: But he's keeping the 30 pieces tff silver. Mr. Edden: I dare you to say that outside. I'll punoh your head. Mr. Levy: It's all love's labour lost. There is no Speaker. As soon as tho Speaker entored the Chamber there was an uproar—cheers from ono side, and hoots from tho other.' Thero was a lull as tho Speaker menced to read tho usual notification of having been presented to his Excellency tho Lieutenant-Governor. When ho came to the portion "The Assembly, in accord with their undoubted rights and privileges," thoro was' a violent interruption. "You've trampled on our rights and privileges," shouted Mr. Fitzpatrick, and thero aroSe a perfect hurricrtno of yells and hoots, mingled with recriminations. When Mr. Willis continued, to tho effect that the House had proceeded to elect a Speaker,' and that he- had been "the object of your choice," Mr. Fitzpatrick interjected, "You are an object, but not of our ohoic^." Mr. Onslow: We didn't choose you, anyway. When Mr. Willis went on to say— "Whereupon his Excellency was pleased to approve of me as Speaker, and offered me his congratulations," there was a storm of derisive laughter.

Mr. Fitzpatrick: Did yiru inform his Excellency of tho trick by which you got your seat? Mr. Lovy: That document is a lie. You aro not tlie Speaker. But Mr. Willis had adopted a policy of stolidity,' and took no notice, oven when several members called him "Traitor." "I take this opportunity," proceeded Jlr. Willis, "of thanking tho House for electing me." There was such an uproar from the Opposition at this that he was unable to Pr " You' aro not elected," shouted Mr. Fitzpatrick and a dozen others. Jlr. Levy: You'll havo to provo that to tho Courts. Mr. Perry: You will bo served with a writ in ton minutes. Mr. Cohen: The Courts will deal with you. We'ro taking action. Mr. Mercer flung across a retort from the Government side, "It sounds as if the Zoo were let loose." The Usher of the Black Rod then requested the presence of members of tho Assembly in the Legislative Council to hear the Governor's Speech read for the 1 opening of this session of Parliament. "But wo havo no Speaker, shouted tho Opposition. ' "Go hack and tell the Governor that," was Jlr. Price's advice, as tho Speaker proceeded from his chair. Mr. Fitzpatrick again shouted, We have no Speaker/ • Instantly a Government supporter retorted, "iiar! Wo h&v®'" With Rreat solemnity Air. Terry announced to Government supporters as they were trooping out of Mho Chamber, "We will stay here, but you can go to the devil."