WILLIS THE AUTOKRAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 7

WILLIS THE AUTOKRAT.

"COUNTRY SAFE WHILE I RULE."? Melbourne, December 6. Mr. Willis (Speaker of. the New South Wales Legislative Assembly) visited the Federal Parliament to-day. In an interview he said that . when he became Speaker the Oppositionists were like cubs. He left them like : lambs; they were all well trained now and fit for Sunday-school teachers. ', ,';; Mr. Willis said that lie thought that the coming elections in New South Wales i would bring changes, but when all was over the balance would rest with him. He was.a non-party man, and would continue to govern the country, which would. be safe if he had the balance of power; there was no doubt about that.

A NATIONAL ARMY. (Received December 6. 10 p.m.) Melbourne, December 6^^, . In the Federal Senate to-day, Mr. McDougall moved that as a matter of national policy the Australian citizen army be entirely composed of Australians, led by. officers .raised from the ranks, but allowing- for .. the .engagement of an Imperial officer of the rank of general, as Inspector-General. < Mr. McDougall declared that the, imported English officers had • the whole-hearted .contempt of the Australian officers. Every imported officer meant' that an Australian lost a -chance of promotion. ;.,•■•••':,.''■ *"" ' ' '.' '• '■■■■■'■, . ~: Senator Pearce (Minister for Defence) said he would not oppose the motion, because it expressed what was being carried out. He explained that the imported offi- ■' cers were exchanges, and he had'been told that immense benefit had been derived from exchanges.;-.. The debate was adjourned. .-■■ , : - s '<'»■■;' ■:. ■'.'.''.:■','.-: ro NORTH- ' MOUNT LYELL ■'.. DISASTER. Hobart, December 6. ' At the inquest on the bodies of the two men, , Gard and Stud well (who were killed in the North Mount Ly ell ..mine), the evidence showed' that the men died -v from carbon, monoxide gas poisoning. The coroner explained thai i the' causes of v th* disaster would be .dealt with by another ; | tribunal. v The. funerals, which tookvplaafyesterday, -were' largely attended. ";'', r QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT. V : Brisbane, December 6; The Parliamentary session has ended.: AN ISLANDS .. MISSIONARY.' ■■;'■ s (Received December: 6, 10 p.m.) \ "■r-y":'■■:•■ ' ; : ' - Sydney, December 6. " ; V;.; - Rev. ? ' pr,... Coming l}'. Archdeacon.; 'of ; v Melanesia, has returned. rom. • England! •';.■' He intends to settle in New Zealand, 1": './' ■■■"■':,.':;. ''~'■.''■' •■'■.'■.'.'. .::■' ."-?*>« | t ; "'<' ii'V ■-'>"''.,■ .';■ SYDNEY CITY. COUNCIL^ , , (Received December 6.. JQ #,ra / ')r i ."•':•:' : • •■','■,..'.?,; Sydney, December 6. . Several aldermen "have Offered ,tio;i;fisign in ; order to .allow./ Sir. Allen. Taylor/.'- who ■* Was defeated at\the election, to reta'af his seat on the Council. Mr. Richards' has,' received a number of congratulations from > New Zealand on his election ■; to klderrhanio;; ,'', honours. ; ~.:•'■/': . r;.; &i'ii!?£'-T ''■''■' ;'•■/■•' -„,•,'■.. -i. :■.;.:■ ■,■:. ■.. j ».,..-,•. .;■' '/. ■ '""■, OBITUARY. (Received December 6, 10 p.m.) • •'■■'..■.,, , : Sydney, December 6. The death is announced of Mr. George Pile, formerly of New Zealand, and for "', Y ; some years 111 * prominent man - ; iii" business ■;.'.; ! circles in Sydney. '-...-; ; A HELL UPON EARTH. ,' (Received' December 6, 10 p.m.) ■ ■'■. ,f. •'■ " • ; Sydney, December 6. ' Judge Burnside,'in i sentencing a man ■ who, after losing ■ moneys'at • the races,. *as guilty' of embezzlement, said The ; : ;ates of hell open-in front of you on the v ■acecourse, .and, the man who follows! that ~ ine finds himself in .a hell upon earth;'.!