UPROARIOUS LEGISLATORS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 6

UPROARIOUS LEGISLATORS.

SCENE IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. "You are an unmitigated liar!" shout-' ed Mr. Roberts, honorary Minister, across the table to Mr. Joseph Cook in tho Commonwealth House of Representatives on December 14. A "scene of noisy vituperative uproar followed. ' Mr. Higgs had asked the Prime Minister to table a return showing the appointments made by the Government as a reply to Mr. Cook's statement at Bendigo that Labour members had done very well for themsolves and their friends, going after billets like sharks after pieces of pork. In the uproar Mr. Higgs was heard to say, "And ho is going to preach to-mor-row." The Speaker: Order! order! Mr. Cook: I did make the statement, and I am prepared to substantiate it. Mr. Fentou: Truthful Joe. Mr, Roberts was then compelled to withdraw himself or withdraw his statement, amid continued uproar. Mr. Moloney: Joe is done. Mr. Cook: I wish to make a personal explanation. I don't charge tho Government with doing anything wrong. ( Oh! and general uproar.) , Mr. Fisher tried in vain to curb his followers, and appealed to tho House to support tho Speaker. Mr. Fenton: Cook is playing it low down. (Cries of "Withdraw.") Mr. Fenton: To comply with the forms of tho House I withdraw, but I believe it. Mr. Fowler: Mr. Speaker, he says he believes it all the same. The Speaker: If so, he should not have said it. (Laughter.) Mr. Cook drew the attention of tho Prime Minister to a statement in a newspaper that the Labour administration had been marked by more squalid incidents than any other. Mr. Fisher: In my opinion, it is incorrect. (Laughter.)— Sydney "Sun."