HOME RULE BILL CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1598, 15 November 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE BILL CRISIS.

PANDEMONIUM IN PARLIAMENT. MR.'CHURCHILL STRUCK IN THE FACE. . MINISTERS HOWLED-DOWN.-By. Telegraph—Press AffsociaiUon-Oopyrlgfct

Rec. Novembei-15, 0,60 a,m.) London, November 14., A scene of great disorder occurred in the Houss of Commons yesterday, when, the Prime Minister moved the rescission at .the Banbury amendment to the Homo Rule Bill, carried against the Govern., ment by the Opposition by a majority of 22 on a snatch division. Mr. ' Asquith. said the amendment, which limits the financial assistance to Ireland from the' Imperial Exchequer, would bo fatal, and made it impossible to proceed with the Bill. If the Houso reaffirmed Sir Frederick Banbury's amendment, ho would acoept the decision. There were Opposition cries of "Cheap bluff!" . ',■ The Speaker, replying to Mr. Bonar; law. Leader of the Opposition, said the motion was in order, though unprecedented. Still, he would not say thai] the House should never form a' new precedent. ' . The Opposition hotly criticised the Government. Mr. Bonar Law moved ib adjotirn the debate. This was negatived by 109 votes. Sir Frederick' Banbury moved_ that when a question had once been decided it should not again 1 be raised in the same session. The proposed rescission of the amendment was an affront to the House of Commons' deoisionA • Minister Howled Down. Sir Rufus Isaacs, the Attorney General, on J rising to reply on behalf of the Government, was assailed with shouts 'of "Asquith!" and cries of "Adjourn, ad' journ!" Scenes of disorder followed, afid the sitting: was suspended for an hour. When the sitting was resumed, Sir Rufus Isaacs made a second attempt to speak, but was again frustrated by cries of "Adjourn!" The Speaker called on 'Unionists to speak, but their friends kept lip the chant of "Adjourn, adjourn!" . The Speaker's appeals for order were without result,-and finally he said that as it was obvious that the Opposition would not allow further progress to bo made, the sitting was adjourned until to-day. ■"-. ■ ■ .*. Amid tremendous, cheers from tnej Unionists, the House' broke up in tumult- j uou? disorder* cheering find singing for some .'minutes. The Attorney-General stood facing the 3emonstrators' benches opposite,. from which a' orumpled Order Paper was thrown at tho Premier, while another, fell noar Sir Rufus Isaacs. Neither took the slightest notice. • . . , Mr, Churchill Struck, : Heanwhile, Mr. Ronald.M'NeiU, Union---ist member for Kent, seized tho Speaker's copy of the Standing, Orders, and flung it across tho floor, apparently, at Mr. ,Wiii>. : ston Churchill, First Lord'of th'fe Admiralty. The book struck and bruised Mr. Churchill's face.' Mr. Churchill started, angrily, but was restrained by Mr; J. W. Gulland, : Junior LorbVof the Treasury, and Mr. John Burns, President of the Local Government Board. ; ' Mr. Bonar Law, towards the close of his speech, recalled the fact that '.in 1905, when Mr.Balfour refused to resign under different circumstances, Mr. John Redmond, had vowed to make the continuance'! in office of the Government impossible. Quoting Sir' Edward -Grey's, strong en--J dorsement of Mr. RedmondV word, Mr. Bonar Law said: "The Coalition in our:

place would break tile Parliamentary machine and compel an appeal to the people. I leave it at that." Captain Craig, Conservative member for Down, in seconding Sir Frederick Banj bury's motion, described the Governmoßt as a caucus led by rebels. '■ The Premier listened quietly to the violent outbursts punctuating the proceedings, • . The most angfy scene occurred diiring tho speech of Mr. E. H- Pollock, Conservative member foT Warwick, who accused the Premier of disregarding the Tules . of the House, dating from 1610, that When a matter of substance had been determined . one way it must not be determined another way during the same session . Tho Premier had torn up that rule to suit his own particular purpose. Opposition cheers, and cries of "Traitor!" greeted this statement. / The Speaker: "If I knew who eaid 'Traitor!' —" Sir W. J. Bull* Otflonel Chaloner, and Mr. Charles Craig (three Unionist members): "We did." The Speaker then called on Sir W. J. Bull to withdraw, but he declined, and repeated the word "Traitor!" ■ ■ • • ' The offending member was then ordered to withdraw for the day, and saying, "I will," he left amidst Opposition cheers. Mr, Pollock, in concluding his speech, predicted that the Premier would be remembered for generations as the nian who broke up Parliament as a deliberative assembly. ■'' ' Ministers File Out. Pandemonium ensued as the Ministers filed slowly out. The Government supporters leapt to their feet, some mounting the beaches and cheering' wildly. From the Opposition benches came shouts of "No Home Rule! No surrender,'" and "Sacked!" As the Unionists derisively cheered the departing .Cabinet Ministers, the incensed Radicals, pointing to tlie Opposition, hissed and Shouted, "Gentlem&n of England!". The cry came back, '"Ratal" and was repeated again and again. Mutual jeering continued for five minutes (13 tho House emptied. <3n.e version of the assault on Mr. Clnirehill is thai: cries of "Rats!" were levelled at one or two Ministers who had formerly been .' Conservatives. Mri Churchill waved.his handkerchief to encourage the Liberals to cheer the Premier,., and before pocketing it waved towards the Opposition. • This incensed Mr, M'Neill. ' . . ■ ■■ j The situation was threatening, and ■some,! feated violence on the floor of the Hoiisei similar to 'that whicli 'occurred' in' 1898, but Mr. Crooks, Labour member for Poplar, v by shouting ■ auld! acquaintance bo- forgot'?"''tiirned the) : ahuer.- into momentary laughter. ; ; The; I Unionist • leaders afterwards'; resolved allow,.tho debate: on the .Premier's . resolution to continue unless the Government will find a. Parliamentary and- constitutional • way out of their difficulty. ..'•.■ Another factor in the situation is the possibility of the Speaker resigning if grave disorder continues; >' ; ' 'MELBOURNE ULSTER MEETING. Melbourno, November 14.■ A meeting held in the Town Hall, under the auspices Of the Ulster and Loyal Irish' , men's Association, 'carried an- anti-Home Rule resolution, which will be forwarded to. Sir' Edward Catson, JLP. j>,