M.P. STRUCK TWICE BY PRESSMAN

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5284, 21 December 1946, Page 5

M.P. STRUCK TWICE BY PRESSMAN

YPress 'Assn.-

INCIDENT IN COMMONS

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES

—Rec. 9.30 p.m )

*. LONDON, Dec. 20. Mr. F. G. Bowles (I^abour), speaking* in the House of Coitimons to-night, said it had come to his notice that a Communist member, Mr. Piratin, &ad twice been physically assaulted and battered within ihe precincts of the House. The Speaker said he would instruct the Sergeant-at-Arms to ascertain the facts. "I will make a statement tomorrow," he said. "I regret to say I have some knowledge of these events. The person guilty t)f this repeated assault was a Press correspondent accredited to the serviee of this House." The Sergeant-at-Arms, reporting later to the Commons, said that the incideiit undoubtedly oecurred in the pre inets of the House, but the evideii -e appeared conflicting and a furthci iixvestigation was required to det»*nnine the actual facts. _ 1 he Speaker then invited Mr. Piratin to make a statement before it was decided whether or not it was a prima ; farie case. Mr. Piratin said there wero actui ally two assaults. "The first occasion was in a cafeteria," he said. "This rnan attacked me after using j offensive rexnarks. I struclc him. I was apologetic and expressed deep | regret, but I did what every other 1 member would have done in the cirI cumstances. He not only jnsulted 1 me. but insulted my race. j ")n the second occasion, 90 minj utes later, when the whole matter as Ifar as I was concerned was foi'gotten, Jexcept that I was going to make a jjformal report to the Sergeant-at-lAniis, I was upstairs to meet a re-. Upoi'tev and as I left the reporters' 3iooir. this man deliberately attacked jjme while I was not in a position to. Jdefend myself, and struck blows, the jresi' ;t of which the House can see for gitself. g "Although 'I express deep regi'et to athe House that my provocation Upnuiinted me to return the blow in ythe first case, I niust ask the House Jto take into account the second occas|ion which was ahsolutely unprovoked land, further, was premeditated in ■view of tlie fa 't that the man himself Kaiti after the first occasion 'Wait till | £•". you alone.' " j| Mr. Speaker then said he had re®,!eiv-'.| a letter which perhaps in fairj -o the other side, he should read. 1 jllu- reporter said: "I deeply regret • ly ]art in what oecurred, and ask

i'i helieve that no disrespeet was • iurended to you or the dignity of Commons, either individually or >. : vely. I have never hitherto : ivvolved in any cntoward incit and trust you will believe me >: i say I will never allow this to iv again." t. Herbert Morrison said that Mr. itia's account of the affair did c the issue just a wee bit uncer- ;> to who played this part, and i he other, but the facts were ty clear, and he thought this was asion when the House might . sense of proportion. r. 1 'hmvhill said niany would feel L'e vas great wisdom in Mr. Moi*nV idea that the matter should be >ed off, but there were serious i>. He vas not in favour of u;«« ■ ; s of Parliament being knoeked .it y strangers when in the preis of the House. It mattered nog hetlier they were C'om'munisls Li'-ies. The House niust gjard rigiits.He propo^ed that the matter lli go before the Committec oi -'ik^es. h. speaker then said that a prima b iitse had been made out, and M rrison said that he was only ng ;•.» get the matter settled amicv.ithout bad-blood but, fn view ilr. Speaker's ruling, be felt that matter be referred to the Comtee. he House agreed to the motion.