A DISORDERLY SCENE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14767, 24 August 1911, Page 5

A DISORDERLY SCENE.

NEW SOUTH WALES POLITICS.

BLOWS NAREOWLY AVOIDED/ AN ELECTION : INEVITABLE. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— . , (Eeceired. August % 9.5 pan.) '..'.". Sydney," August" 23. ""; The State Parliament was opened io-day by Commission. * Mr. Willis (Liberal) was nominated by the Government for the Speakership of the Legislative Assembly. The proceedings in the Assembly -were of an electric and disorderly nature from the jump. The mover and seconder of Mr. Willis's nomination as Speaker were constantly interrupted by sarcastic remarks from the Opposition benches. There was a constant exchange of heated remarks, and at one point the excitement rose to such - a pitch that the intervention of other members was necessary to prevent two legislators exchanging blows. , ■ Mr. Wade, Leader of the Opposition (Liberal) party, in a lengthy speech, hotly and bitterly attacked the Government and Mr. Willis. He declared that the course that had been followed by the Government involved a degradation and humiliation of parliamentary government such as he had never seen before. The Government was so hungry for office that it would do anything rather than relinquish its grip upon the Ministerial benches. They had, he said,, become great betrayers of history, and had dangled the bait of prestige and emolument before members..

Continuing, Mr. Wade reproached Mr. ; Willis with deserting the Liberals by accepting tbo-Speakership, and declared thai? he (Mr. Willis) was absolutely unworthy to £11 the chair, having made himself a party to a disgraceful contract,, the object of which was to keep in power a Government after it had ceased to enjoy the confidence of the House and the country. ', Mr. Holman (Acting-Premier), who was frequently interrupted, made a spirited reply to Mr. Wade. He defended the Government and . Mr. Willis. - He «aid if the Labour party, had been able to appealto two farmers' electorates at a moment oil unpopularity and intense excitement, and the Liberals had failed to gain these seats, the Labour party could face a general election with composure. The House would be permitted to clear up business which. was clearly necessary before an appeal was made to the country. ; They were determined to get the Electoral Reform Bill and the Redistribution of Seats Bill through, but as soon as the necessary business was through the House would be sent to its masters. He ; pledged his word that no effort would be made to pass legislation while the party had not a majority. He expected that there would bo a general election about Christmas. ■ (Received August 24, 12.40 a.m.) ■ ;■.■■ Sydney, August 23. i The debate in still . going strong, and there is every prospect of a protracted sitting. ' /i ■ The proceedings are of a free and essy character. The clerk, who is filling ■ the place of Speaker without his powers (not being permitted to speak), '■ is: helpless in regard to the checking of members. .'-'. ■.'■ The Opposition state that they are determined to resist Mr. Willis's appoints ment to the death, but are willing to.com-. promise if some one else is nominated. ••

Mr. Holman stated last week ; that Mr. Willis (Liberal) had ,' consented to allow, himself to be nominated .for'.-'the Speakership. He added that the Government realised that it was impotent to deal with contentious matters. Parliament would hold a short session, devoted to preparing for 'an inevitable apper.l to '. the i country at'; the earliest • practicable date. . Tha late Speaker (Mr. Cann) has joined the fighting line of the Labour party. ; ; There were, prior to the recent ;„• by-elections, .in • the Legislative Assembly 44 ' pledged Labour, men and 44 Liberals (counting; the' direct Opposition and the Independents). The 1 elections did not alter the position. . ; The Liberal strength of the House is now; "45 and the Labour strength 45 also. '".