UPROAR IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3680, 15 November 1912, Page 5

UPROAR IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

GOVERNMENT HOTLY GRITiGISED.

PAPERS AND BOOKS FLUNG AT THE MINISTERS VIOLENCE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE NARROWLY AVERTED.

UNIONISTS REFUSE GO VERNMENT A HEARiNC.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT) LONDON, Nov. IT.

Mr Asquith moved the rescission of Sir F. G. Banbury’s amendment, which he said was fatal, and made it impossible to proceed with the Bill. If tho House reaffirmed Sir F. G- Banbury’s amend'ment, lie would accept the decision. Opposition cries of “'Cheap bluff.” Tlie Speaker, replying to Mr BonarLaw, leader of the Opposition, said the motion was in order, though Unprecedented. Still, ho would not say the House should never form a new precedent. The Opposition hotly criticised the Government. Mr Bonar-Law moved the adjournment of the debate, but this was negatived by 109 votes. Sir F. G. Banbury moved chat when a question was once decided it shouid not again be raised during the same session. Tlie proposed rescission, he said, was an affront- to the House of Commons’ decision. There were scenes of disorder, and tlie sitting was suspended for an honr. Sir Rufus Isaac was refused a nearing.

Radicals, pointing to the Opposition, hissed and shouted “Gentlemen of England!” The cry came back “Rats!” repeated again and again. Mutual jeering continued for five minutes as the House emptied.

One version of the assault on Mry Churchill is that the cries of “Rats!” were levelled at one or two Ministers formerly Conservatives. Mr. Churchill waved his handkerchief to encourage the Liberals to cheer the Premier, and before pocketing it waved it towards the Opposition This incensed Mr. McNeill, and the situation was threatening. Some feared violence on the floor similar to the row in 1893, but Mr. Will Crooks (Labor), shouting “Sho'uld Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot!” turned anger into momentary laughter. ANGER TO LAUCHTER.

The Unionist Leader afterwards resolved not to allow the debate on the Premier’s resolution to continue unless the Government find a Parliamentary and Constitutional way out ol the difficulty. Another factor is the possibility of the Speaker resigning if the grave disorder continues.

ADJOURN ! ADJOURN !

AN UNRULY SCENE

SIR WM. BULL SUSPENDED FOR A DAY.

(Received Nov. 15. 12.20 n.m.) LONDON, Nov. 14. Sir Rufus Isaacs (Solicitor-Gene-ral), rising to reply on behalf of the Government, was assailed with shouts for Mr. Asquith and cries of “Adjourn! Adjourn!” The Speaker adjourned for an 'hour. When the sitting was resumed Sir Rufus Isaacs made a. second attempt to speak, hut was frustrated by cries of “Adjourn!” The Speaker called on the Unionists to speak, hut their friends kept up the diaut of “Adjourn! Adjourn!” When attempting to speak the Speaker's anpeals were result! ess, and final!v lie said it- was obvious that the Opposition would not allow further progress, and the sitting was adjourned amid tremendous Unionist cheers.

Tim House broke up amid tumultuous disorder, and with cheering and sinsring for some minutes. The Minister stood, facing the. demonstrators’ benches opposite. A crumpled-up Order Paper was thrown at the Premier and another foil near Sir Rufus Isaacs, but neither took the slightest notice. Meanwhile Mr. Ronald McNeill (Unionist) seized the Speaker’s copy of the Standing Orders and flung it across the floor, apparently at Mr. Churchill. The book struck and. bruised Mr. Churchill’s face, and Mr. Churchill started angrily, but was restrained by Messrs. Gulland and John Burns. Mr. Bonar Law (Unionist Leader), towards the elese of his speech, recalled the fact that in IDOo. when Mr. Balfour (Unionist- Loader) refused to resign under different circumstances, Mr. Redmond (Nationalist Leader) vowed to make a continuance of the Government impossible. Mr. Bonar Law, quoting Sir Edward Grey’s strong endorsement of Mr. Redmond’s words, said “Coalition in Our place would break the Parliamentary machine and compel an appeal to the people. Leave it at that!” Captain Craig (Unionist), in seconding Sir F. G Banbury’s motion, described the Government caucus as led by rebels. The Premier listened quietly to the violent outbursts punctuating the proceedings.

AN ANGRY SCENE.

A most angry scene occurred during Mr. E. M. Pollock’s (Unionist) speech, wherein the Premier was accused of disregarding tho rules of tho House dating from 1610, that when a matter of substance was determined one way it must not bo determined another way in the same session. He said tho Premier tore up that rule to puit his own particular purpose. .Opposition cheers and. cries of “Traitor!” Tho Speaker: “If I knew who said ‘traitor’ ’ ’ Thereupon Sir Gilliam Bull (Unionist), Colonel Chaloner (Conservative), and Captain Craig (Unionist), interrupting, said they did The Speaker called on Sir William Bull to withdraw, but he declined, and repeated “Traitor.” Ho was ordered to withdraw for the day, and saying “I will,” loft dmidst Opposition cheers. Mr. Pollock, concluding, predicted that the Premier would he romembered for generations as the -in an who broke up Parliament as a deliberative Assembly. A pandemonium ensued as the Ministers filed slowly out. Their supporters leapt to their feet, some mounting the benches, and cheered wildly. From tho Opposition benches came shouts of “No Homo R.ule!” “No surrender!” and “Sacked!” and as the Unionists derisively cheered the departing Cabinet members, incensed