VIOLENT SCENE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1929, Page 8

VIOLENT SCENE

IN N.S.W. PARLIAMENT. DISGRACEFUL LANGUAGE. “YOU ARE DRUNK; SIT DOWN.” One of. the most disgraceful scenes yet witnessed in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales occurred last Thursday night. Mr Horsington Labour member for Sturt, made a violent attack upon members of the Ministry (says the “Sydney Morning Herald”), and after cursing and swearing at the (Premier and the Ministers was ,at the request of the Deputy-Speaker (Mr Bruoe Walker removed from the Chamber. Shaking his fist towards the Government supporters, Mr Horsington shouted : “ May the curse of the compensation men be upon yog all your life” ; “You bludging lot of ” ; “You bludging cowards,” “You political bludgers,” “You murderers.” Pandemonium reigned for half an hour ; most of the Opposition members shouting and gesticulating wildly, in the midst of which stood the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Lang) protesting - against the action of the Deputy-Speaker in accepting MiBavin’s conduct and calling upon him to withdraw the words “ murderers” and apologise to the House. After Mr Horsington had been hustled out of the Chamber by the Sergeant nt-Arms, members of the Government and of the Opposition continued to exchange angry ejpithets. At length, Mr Horsington was prevailed upon by members of his own party to return to the House and apologise for his outburst. CURSING THE PREMIER, Directly the Premier (Mr Bavin) and other Ministers walke'tl into the Chamber to vote on the closure, Mr Horsington jumped from his seat shaking his fist violently, and shouting at the Premier r “You murderer!” In the uproar Mr Ho.rsington’s shouting was hardly audible, but the Minister of Agriculture (Mr ihorljy) directed the Deputy-Speaker’s attention to the words “ murderer.” Mr Horsington continued to curse the Premier and his Ministers.

Mr Bavin, addressing Mr Horsington, said:,“You are drunk, sit down,” and informed the Deputy-Speaker tiiat he would take immediate proceedings against the member for Sturt. Meanwhile Mr Lang had been engaged in a verbal warfare with the Deputy Speaker on a point of order, claiming that two motions—the motion for adjournment and the Premier’s motion — coiild not be before the House at the same time.

The Minister of Health angrily urged the Deputy-Speaer to “put Mr Lang out.” There was more uproar. The Deputy-Speaker accepted Mr Bavin’s motion that Mr Horsington was guilty of'disorder and worthy of the censure of the House, and that he be called upon to withdraw the words and apologise.

The motion was carried by 39 votes to 35.

MR HORSINGTON APOLOGISES

At 10.40 p.m. the Deputy-Speaker ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to bring Mr Horsington back into the Chamber and upon his return informed Mr Horsington of the resolution that he should withdraw the words find apologise to the House, and added that he could make his explanation. 'Mr Horsington advanced to the table very slowly and said: “I'regret very much that my language in the matter was so strong. I regret saying what I did, but I do say that the passage of this bill will send men to an early grave.” The Deputy-Speaker: I ask you to withdraw and apologise. Mr Horsington : I do withdraw -the words and apologise to the House, and I would ask you to ask the Premier to withdraw the uncalled-for remarks he made against me,

The Premier then moved that Mr Horsington having apologised to the House, the House was willing to accept the apology and the motion was carried on the voices. “PUBLIC LIFE INTOLERABLE.” When seen later, the Premier, Mr Bavin said: “I regret extremely the disorder that marked the closing of Parlia ment to-night. The conduct of the Leader of the Opposition and his followers is rapidly making Parliament almost an impossible place for any decent man. The language used regularly was of a character which degraded the House, and apparently this sort of language was used with the approbation of many members of the Opposition. '

“In tliis particular case the motion before the House was purely a formal one, to restore in the business paper of the Legislative Council‘the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The measure had already been discussed in the Assembly and the members of the Opposition had the fullest opportunity to discuss it. withstanding this, Mr Davidson, oho of the members ifor Broken Hill, mafic a long speech on the formal motion,And Mr Horsington, the other member few Broken Hill, having failed to obtain mi opportunity of speaking, apparently determined to create a disturbance on the adjournment motion, for the sole purpose of preventing Mr Davidson front, having the whole of the credit of opposing this motion. “T had no part, in t<l'e proceedings, but came in slfortty before the end of t>’p sitting, to move, the adjournment of the House, On my moving this motj-

ion, Mr Horsington applied a disgusting epithet to me, which I personally didn’t hear, .but to .which my attention was drawn by one of the membeis on the Government side. “| only want to add that the violent and"'degrading character of the language and behaviour which is becoming a daily characteristic of the Opposition is making public life almost intolerable for those who have any regard for their public reputation.”