BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 17 July 1909, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

SCENE IN THE, COMMONS,

London, July 15. A. scene occurred in committee of the House of Commons during the debate on the Flhance Bill* The Labour members had, ?>een interrupting Mr Balfour in hiS protest against the compulsory registration of land transfers. They adopted the same tactics towards Mr E. G. Pretyman (Unionist member for Chelmsfqrd division of Essex), who was interrupted by Mr Will Thorne, Labour member for South-West Ham. The Earl of Winterton (a young Irish Peer, who since 1904 has represented Horsham in the Unionist interest) remarked that the member for South-West Ham was in an unfit state to participate in the debate.

Mr Thorne replied : I am as sober as you, my dear friend. The Chairman (Mr Alfred Emmptt) ordered 7 Earl Winterton to withdraw his remark.

Earl Winterton said : My sincere opinion is that the member is unfit, but, as you rule.otherwise,, I withdraw. / _U

The Chairman: I must ask the Labour members not to keep interrupting. At the instance of Mr Keir Hardie (Labour , member for Merthyr Tydvil), the Chairman asked Earl Winterton to make a more formal withdrawal of the expressions he had used. The Chairman said he had not heard Earl Winterton say he still thought Mr Thorne was unfit, but had understood him to withdraw his remarks.

Earl Winterton; No other meaning could attach to my words.

M;r Thorne; If he is not prepared to withdraw; I will call him a liar. (Uproar.) The' Chairman ; He has with: drawn everything. Mr Thorne: He is an absolute liar. lam as sober as any man in the House.

The Chairman asked for 1 the withdrawal of-the unparliamentary expression used by Mr Thorne. Mr Thorne: I will do nothing of the kind. !

The Chairman then suspended Mr Thorne for the rest of the sit-

tingMr Thorne, on quitting the House, addressing Earl Winterton, said; “Now, you walk out and see whether you are as sober as I am.”

Eater on Mr Keir Hardie -assured the Chairman that Mr Thorne had not tasted liquor the whole day. M r Thorne had used the words under extreme provoca-

tion. Mr Keir Hardie appealed to the Chairman to recall Mr Thorne’s suspension. , Earl Winterton, amid cheers, said; In view of Mr Keir Hardie’s statement, I am prepared to apologise to Mr Thorne. The Chairman stated that, under the rules of the House, he was unable to resciiid the suspension.