MR SPEAKER WILLIS

Evening Star, Issue 15075, 6 January 1913, Page 2

MR SPEAKER WILLIS

A VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. [Special to the Star.] ALCKLAND, January 4. The autocrat of the New South Wales Parliament, Mr Sneaker Willis, arrived "in Auckland by the s.s. Wimmera this afternoon. Probably to New Zen landers the name of Henry Willis is better known than that of any other Australian politician. Mr Willis does not give the impression of the domineering political tyrant that the news cables have indicated'him to be. Thera is nothing pompous or overbearing about him. The 'Star' reporter win, hoarded the Wimmera. on her arrival this afternoon • at once fastened on to the happiest, plumpest, and most pkasnnt-looking man on the ship, and that man was Mr Speaker Willis, lie looks what he is—.a well-to-do country squatter, strong and healthy, with a- jovial, clean-shaven, almost boyish face. He appears anything but (lie tyrant, yet he has swayed the New South Wales Par-

liament for nearly two years past entirely at his own sweet will, and there has been no one to say him nay. Mr Willis, when interviewed concerning the political position in Now South Wales, said that hs knew he had been pnitrayed to the people of Australasia as a tyrant, but that was only because it. best- suited those papers which supported the Wadeites to describe and picture him as such. Ho had in icality been most indulgent and most considerate to members, knowing their ignorance of parliamentary procedure. Tiro public had to understand that there, was a distinction between the Wadeites and the l.iberals in the House. The former conducted their business as would the rabble ; in fact, their behaviour was like that of larrikins. Questioned concerning the political situation, Mr Willis said that there would have to be a. Geneial Election earlv in the present year. The redistribution of seats had been accomplished, and Parliament had granted Supply until June. If the Govern men I. attempted to again meet the House, they would be without a. working majority, and control would be taken from them. A dissolution was inevitable. Asked what his own position as Speaker would then be, Mr Willis replied that on 1 going to the country ho would appeal to the people of (he Stats to endorse his a. lions as Speaker in upholding Re.spon-

Able Government, and 'would ask them to A- and Mr Wade and his parly for ever as having been a disgrace to the .State of Mwr South- Wales. He believed that- public opinion throughout the Slate favored Aping ihe Wadeites out of existence, and he looked forward confidently to public • ‘xlorssir.ent of his attitude as Speaker.