EJECTED FROM THE COMMONS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 9

EJECTED FROM THE COMMONS

THE ADVENTURES OF MR. PEMBEBTON BILLING AN IGNOMINIOUS EXIT Mr. I'oinbertnn Billing was (as recently cabled) forcibly ejected from the House of Commons for a defiance of the Speaker. He had exhausted tho patience of the House by his insistent "siipplomentnries" to the questions of other members, had been shouted down, and had taken every opportunity, relevant' or otherwise, of bobbing up again. Ho and Mr. Roch rose together to move tlie adjournment of the House, and tho Speaker called on Mr. Roch. Mr. Billing: I protest. I gave notice of my intention (to raise, the alien question)' last Thursday. The Speaker: Since that Umo a "blocking motion" has been put down .(by Mr. R. D. Holt). Mr. Billing: What is a blocking motion (Laughter.) The Speaker told him that if he consulted the members to his right and left they would inform him, and to Mr. Billing's further remark: "In any event, what is a blocking motion?" he said curtly: "I cannot instruct the lion, member on the elementary rules of procedure."

Mr. Billing: On n pninfc of order —- (Loud and general shouts of "Sit down!") Shouting at the lop of his voice, Mr. Billing exclaimed: "I am not going to sit down while these damned Germans are running about I" The Speaker (stiil standing): I can listen to no further point of order. This is not a court of law! (Laughter.) "It is not a ouestion of free speech either," roared Mr. Billing at the top of his raucous voice. "I have tio intention of leaving the House until the internment of enemy aliens is given free debate." The Speaker: I am not going to be shouted down 1w the hon. member. I warn him that if he. does not obey my order ho runs the risk of suspension. Tho House, now thoroughly angry, filled the Chamber with cries of "Name! Name!" directed against tho defiant member, who turned from ono side to another exclaiming that ho was doing what he conceived to be his duty. Tho Speaker, still standing, said gravely: I name you, Mr. Billing, for disregarding tho authority of the Chair. Mr. Bonar Law at once moved that Mr. Billing be suspended from the sorvice of the House, and this was carried against a single cry of "No" from Mr. Joseph King. Mr. Billing sat down at last. The Speaker then called on him to withdraw. Mr. Billing sat in his corner, entrenching himself with bis arms round the backs of tho converging benches. The Speaker: Do I understand that you intend to disregard the order of the House?

Mr. Billing (seated): I am doing wliat I consider to be my duty. Tito Speaker (firmly): I call upon the Sergeant-at-Arms to see that the order is carried out. Sir Colin Keppel approached Mr. Billing, spoke, to him, and then, advancing to the table, reported that the lion, member refused to withdraw. The Speaker: I suspend the sitting of the House until such time as the lion, member has left., Call in the officers of the House and have him removed! The Speaker left the House, several members following him. The mace was removed from the table. Four messengers in evening dress, and wearing their gold chains of office, oamo in from the lobby and closed round Mr. Billing, the Sergeant-at-Arms directing operations from behind. (He did not draw his sword.) Mr. Billing struggled hard, but the odds were against him. Two attendants seized a leg each, and two an arm each, and with a desperate wrench they got tho member out of his corner and carried him feet first through the door, while other members laughed and cheered. The last the House saw of Mr. Billing, through the swinging doors, was a scene of hickinix legs and a Hop on tho floor of tho lobby. Fortunately the flop was on the thick coconut mat and not on the hard tiles. In his struggles Mr. Billing grasped the shirt-front of ono of his bearers and disarranged his Court dress. He also kicked another on tho wrist. Thereupon they dropned him. After being assisted on to 'his legs he was conducted by the four messengers across the lobby to tho members' entrance and th'lre handed over to the Bolice. Inspector itogers accompanied him across Palace Yard to the iron gates.