MR. WEBB, M.P., VISITS WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1902, 10 November 1913, Page 5

MR. WEBB, M.P., VISITS WHARF.

ARGUMENT WITH AN EMPLOYEE. During a round- of the wharves yesterday, Mr. P. C. Webb, M.P. for Grey, had a verbal encounter with a group or "specials" near 1 the Athenic, out of which a crowd of onlookers got some entertainment. A special constable was observed to take Mr. Webb by the right arm and' endeavour to get him to move off tho whsfrf. Mr. Webb was plainjv indignant, and accuscd a Shaw-Savill employee of having called him an objectionable name. This was denied, and Mr. Webb turned to a bystander and in answer to a question he said, "I distinctly heard that man say, 'There goes tho member of Parliament.' " The position was becoming somewhat serious, and a heated dialogue ensued between the accuser and tho accused, during which the late president of the United ' Federation was told "that he' ought to have had: more sense than to be on the wharf at a time like this." The member for Grey replied to the effect that "when he wanted a supply of that particular commodity" he would not apply to the speaker. ' Subsequently, Mr. Webb was observed to bo in earnest conversation with a sergeant of polico, who, duri;i<i the conversation, was making notes. It was apparent that Mr. Webb was most annoyed, and presently, accompanied by the sergeant, he mounted tho steps leading to the gangway on the Athenic. Although Mr. Webb's M.P.'s pass allowed him to be on the whar.f, it was a different matter when he came to go on board the Athenic. Tho member for Grey was stopped by a special constable, and told that he could not go on board the vessel without permission from the captain. It is understood that this was refused, although the sergeant went aboard, presumably to find the employee against-whom Mr. Webb had laid certain information. The ser-ge-lint's mission was fruitless. Still talking and arguing, Mr. Webb dismounted the steps, and. after having spoken to members of Parliament, detectives, regular police, and "specials," he walked quiotly off the wharf.