The Row in the New South Wales Assembly.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7068, 14 February 1893, Page 2

The Row in the New South Wales Assembly.

The Sydney Morning Herald thus describes the scene in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, on the occasion of the division on the no confidence' motion ; —The tone of the House, as the division bell rang, became suddenly transformed from one of languor to one of intense excitement. The strangers in the crowded galleries hustled one another in order to obtain a better view, and the ladies gallery fluttered its fans, rustled its dresses, and gave other feminine tokens of excitement. Long hours of waiting, had raised the members’ passions to fever-best, and the division was not allowed to come off without a couple of exciting,’ almost rowdy, scenes. Just as members were settling down in their ee&t in readiness for voting, Mr Lyne appeared at the bar on the Min- | isterial side of the house, leading Mr Hogan into the Chamber. It appeared that Mr Hogan had already paired with Mr Want,and there was great indignation at his appearance. Loud cries of " shame,” “ trickery!” eto, arose, and at last Mr Reid said something, inaudible in the galleries, which induced Mr Ly ne to lead his charge out. The chairman, 1 seeing that the disorder was growing to a dangerous extent, at once ordered the doors to be closed, and the division went on. There was comparative silence whilst the division was being taken } the strangers craned their necks over the galleries, and counted the heads below, whilst the tellers went on Quietly checking the names. It was soon evident that the two sides were pretty evenly balanced, and when the numbers were announced—6o for the Government and 67 against—a mighty cry of triumph went up from each side, the Ministerial supporters shouting “ Crushed again !” and the opposition calling “ Resign ” with all their might. Even after the numbers were up the excitement did not cease. Members crowded together at the upper end of the Chamber, there was a tremendous hubbub, and some* thing like a free fight seemed imminent. The intending combatants were dragged apart,and in the midst of it all the Speaker entered t.ho Chamber, took thU chair, and commanded order in his loudest tone. When at last members bad been induced to resume their seats, the Chairman resumed the ohair, and Mr Crick made a vain attempt to draw attention to the disorder which had taken place. The Chairman, however, would have nothing to do with it, since the scene bad happened whilst the Speaker was in the chair. The Speaker, when appealed to, declined also to enter into the affair since the disorder had occurred whilst the House was in committee. With these contradictory rulings Mr Crick had to be satisfied, and after a few more words had passed, the House just before midnight quietly adjourned. ”