GAGGING THE PRESS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 53, 30 August 1912, Page 7

GAGGING THE PRESS

SPEAKER AND REPORTERS ME. WILLIS EXCLUDES LATTER FROM PEESS GALLEEY. ALLEGED CONTEMPT. Bj Telegr«t»h.— Pre(» Aawcittlon.— Copyrigttt. SYDNEY, 29th August. When the representatives of the Daily Telegraph presented themselves at Parliament House this 'afteniddn, they wefe informed by the Sergeant-at-Arms that he would not permit them to enter the reporters' gallery. It is 1 supposed the 1 Speaker, Mr. Willis, "has taken this method of resenting « Wader appearing in #b-day's Telegraph commenting in the Speaker's action in ejecting Mr. Cohen, one- of the members, from the House. Mr. Willis, in a memorandum issued thi3 evening, states that the Telegraph article -was guilty of contempt ill wilfully inciting members to interrupt the orderly conduct of business. Us publication was an abuse ot the privileges granted' to the press in Parliament House. -The statements were misrepresentations of facts, and misleading to the public, and the writer was disrespect ful ttt the Speaker. The Sergeant-slt-Arms was directed to exclude the Telegraph representatives front the room set apart for their Use and from Ihe press gallery. "THE MOST SURPRISING THING." DAILY TELEGRAPH'S COMMENTS. PARLIAMENTARY* DEMORALISATION. (Received August 30, 9.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The" Sydney Daily Telegraph, commenting tin the exclusion of the reporters, toys !—"! — " Amongst all the surprising things Mr.. Willis has done, this is the most surprising. It indicates how for Ihe Speaker •Would gd ill .suppressing criticism if he had the power. As far as this jdurnal is concerned, no right can be admitted on the part of the Speaker to exercise censorship of any reports or comments of public affairs 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 byword in the mouth of the people." " NOTHING LiKH IT IN HISTOEY." TIME THE PEOPLE* TOOK A HAND. SYDNEY HERALD ON THE \ SITUATION. (Received August 30, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on Air. Willis's action, states :—: — " We venture to say that nothing in the history bf the Parliaments in Australia or Great 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 or nbd is apparently allowed to turn the State upside dowh. It is time the people took a hand, and asserted its powers. WARM TIME IN PROSPECT; MR. M'GOWEN; HECKLED. LOBBIES SIMMER WITH EXCITEMENT. (Received August 30, 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. In tho Assembly, the Premier (Mr. M'Gowen), was heckled by questions on Mr. Neilsert's^ appointment as Trade Commissioner in America. He replied that Mr. Neilsett had been offered the Trade to America, he to decide whether he would accept within a month or two. If he accepted he would bo paid for the office. t Mr. Wade gave notice of motion for Tuesday that the appointment of Mr. Neilsen and the payment of money to him was A violation of the Constitution, and deserving of censure. "On the motion of Mr. M'Gowen, the House adjourned Uhtil Tuesday. The Sydney Morning Herald predicts that owing to Mr. Neilseh's absence, and the attitude some members of tho party are likely to adopt over the exclusion of reporters, the Government will find itself in an awkward fix over the motion, which stopped representatives of the gas companies appearing in the House to appeal against the Gas Bill. The lobbies simmered with excitement when it became known that Mr. Willis intended to exclude the reporters. As the reporters presented themselves, they were asked to show their tickets, and representatives of the offending journal were turned away. As soon as Mr. Willie took his seat, he and the Premier were subjected to a hot cross-fire. , Mr. Willis referred the interrogators to the Sergeant-at-Arms, who held that his instructions were to act. An oxcited scene followed. The exclusion of the reporters was characterised' as a disgrace, an act of barbarity. Mr. Willis silehced nlembers by ruling them out of order, adding that if he saw strangers in the gallery he would have them removed. Ministers are reticent. After consultation, Mr. M'Gowen informed a press representative that Mr. Willis b action came as a surprise. A good many things Mr. Willis tad done had surprised him, but this more than anything else. He declined to express an Opinion on the situation.