THE COERCION BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 259, 3 February 1881, Page 2

THE COERCION BILL.

A Long Sitting of the Commons. The Obstructives at Work. Scenes in the House and Violent Language. The Speaker Threatens Punishment. John Bright indulges in Plain Talk and Threatens Plain Dealing. The House Still Sitting. (By Cable.) London, Feb. 1. The House of Commons has been sitting for the last twenty-four hours on the Irish Coercion Bill. There have been innumerable motions for adjournment by the Irish members, but all have been negatived. Scandalous scenes have occurred in the House, and most violent language has been indulged in by the obstructionists. The Speaker has warned them that their action was verging on wiltul obstruction, which could be punished by the House. Mr. John Bright made a speech, in the course of which be characterised the conduct of the Irish members as a gross insult to the House and to the Government, and stated that the latter would shortly apply a remedy for such obstruction as was being pursued. The debate still proceeds. LATER INTELLIGENCE. Great Disorder in the House—The Debate Stopped by the Speaker. Stampede of the Irish Members. The First Reading Passed. London, Feb. 2. At ten a.m. to-day, owing to the scandalous scenes which continued to occur in the House, the Speaker put a stop to the debate. A great disturbance thereupon ensued, and did not cease until the Irish members left the House in a body. There being still a quorum present, the Coercion Bill was then read a first time, and the second reading will be taken at noon to-day.