BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1024, 16 November 1912, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE HOME RULE BILL. SCENE IN THE COMMONS. London, November 15. In the House ol Commons, Sir Rufus Isaacs, Attorney-General, rising to reply on behalf of the Government, was assailed with shouts for “ Asquith,” and cries of “ Adjourn ! adjourn ! ” When the sitting resumed Sir Rufus Isaacs made a second attempt to speak, but was frustrated by cries ot “ Adjourn.” The Speaker’s appeals were resultless.

Finally he said, “It is obvious the Opposition will not allow further progress, and the sitting is adjourned.”

There were tremendous Unionist cheers, and the House broke up in tumultuous disorder, cheering and singing. For some minutes the Minister stood facing the demonstrators on the benches opposite. A crumpled up order paper was thrown at the Premier, and another fell near Sir Rufus Isaacs. But neither took the slightest notice.

Meanwhile Mr Ronald McNeill seized the Speaker’s copy of the standing orders and flung it across the floor, apporently at the Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill. The book struck and bruised Mr Churchill’s face.

Mr Churchill started up angrily but was restrained by Messrs Gull and Burns.

Mr Bonar Law said, “ Coalition in our place would break the Parliamentary machine to compel an appeal to the people, I leave it at that.”

Captain Craig, seconding Mr Banbury’s motion, described the Government caucus as being led by rebels. The Premier listened quietly to the violent outburst punctuating the proceedings. A most angry scene occurred during Mr Pollock’s speech, wherein the Premier was accused of disregarding a rule of the House, dating from 1610, that when a matter of substance had been determined one way it must not be determined in another way in the same session. The Premier had torn up that rule to suit his own particular purpose. Opposition cheers and cries of “ Traitor.”

The Speaker said : “If I knew who said ‘ Traitor ’ ”

Thereupon Sir W. J. Bull, Colonel Chaloner and Mr Charles Craig, Conservative members, interrupting, said they did. The Speaker called upon Sir W* J. Bull to withdraw. He declined, and repeated, “ Traitor.” He was ordered to withdraw for a day.

Saying “I will,” he left, amidst Opposition cheers. After further grave disorder and riotous scenes the Conservatives decided to block all further debate.

There is a possibility of the Speaker resigning if disorder is continued.