N.S. WALES POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15823, 23 July 1913, Page 5

N.S. WALES POLITICS

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. SPEAKER SPRINGS A SURPRISE. RESIGNATION HANDED IN. Prera Associativa—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, July 22. (Received July 22, at 7.30 p.m.) The final session of the State Parliament was opened to-day by the Governor (Sir Gerald Strickland) with the usual ceremonies.

The Governor's Speech covered the measures outlined in Mr Holman's policy speech on the 12th inst. The erection of grain elevators, the proposal for an underground city railway and vehicular ferry services between Sydney and North Sydney, and the creation of more model suburbs in the metropolitan and country industrial centres were, foreshadowed. RESIGNATION OF MR WILLIS. COMPLAINT AGAINST SIR WILLIAM CULLEN. ALLEGED INTERFERENCE. SYDNEY, July 22. (Received July 22, at 9.20 p.m.) When the Legislative Assembly reassembled after the opening ceremony the Speaker (Mr Willis) caused a simmer of excitement by announcing that he had a communication to make in regard to the office of' Speaker and interference with party politics by the Lieutenant-governor (Sir William Cullen). He moved that the document be printed. ' After some demur on the part of the Opposition' to appoint tellers the motion was carried.

Mt Willis thereupon, amid wild Opposition cheering, tendered his resignation of the Speakership.

Mr Holman asked for the suspension of the sitting till he obtained the consent of tho Governor to proceed with the election of a new Speaker.

Amid ories of "Resign!" and general excitement the House emptied to reassemble at 7 p.m.

The document which was tabled by Mr Willis traas the events leading to his acceptance of the Speakership and the terms of his acceptance. These included the passing of the Redistribution of Seats Bill and appealing to the constituencies (it the earliest date practicable. Mr Willis points out that the redistribution resolution was not passed till the closing hours of last session, and that the House therefore no longer represents the old constituencies, the boundaries having been altered. His obligations to Parliament have therefore been discharged.

Mt Willis's statement proceeds as follows " The time has arrived when I must report a griive abuse of constitutional practice by Sir William Cullen during the absence of the Governor (Lord Chelmsford) in England in 1911. While he was acting as liieutenant-governor. Sir William Cullen officially received and conferred with members of the Opposition— persons who 19 hours previous to their meeting Sir William Cullen had disgraced the Assembly by an organised effort to prevent the election of a Speaker. At the conclusion of the interview Sir William Cullen informed the acting-Premier (Mr Holman) that he would not Teceive the newly-chosen Speaker. This attempt to cast an indignity on Parliament was averted by the Cabinet, which informed Sir William Cullen that if he gaye a personal affront to the Speaker they would resign. Sir William Cullen then invited Mr Holman officially to meet Mt Wade, and the latter proposed that the newlychosen Speaker should be removed from office, Mt Wade undertaking to nominate one of his party for the office. Mr Holman .declined to agree. ■ When Mr M'Gowen returned from England and resumed the Premiership Sir William Cullen invited him to meet Mr Wade, and a similar proposal was made, but Mr M'Gowen declined to assent."

The document concludes as follows "The Lieutenant-governor carried with him from Parliament a partisan bias in favour of his old colleagues, and consequently has shown himself to be unfit for the constitutional office of the administration of responsible government. His partiality encouraged the Opposition in its wanton abuse of me as Speaker. With pain my duty compels me to place on record the foregoing facts. I shall forthwith through the Governor report my complaint to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. I shall now voluntarily vacate the chair without delay, and tender mv resignation of the Speakership." ,

THE NEW SPEAKER. SYDNEY, July 22 (Received July 23, at 0.30 a.m.)

Mr H. D. Morton, a member of the Independent party, was chosen as Speaker. The Assembly then adjourned.