FISTS IN PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 79, 12 July 1910, Page 3

FISTS IN PARLIAMENT.

A BLOODLESS ENCOUNTER. Sydney. June 24. A hastily-arranged contest, without gloves, in which the principals were a -Minister of the Crown and a leading member of il:e Labor Partv, took place in the lobby at the rear of the Legislative Assembly Chamber at Parliament House last night. The supporters of the combatants, however, stepped in, like the police at an ordinary glove fight, and "stopped the fight I ''before any blood was spilt. The incident occurred in the middle of Mr. Bree'by's speech. The Chief Secretary had interrupted the member for Blayney with a question, to which *no answer came except by way of m accusation from Mr. Griffith, who was sitting immediately opposite Mr. Wood, on the end of the front Opposition bench, reiterating a charge, often made previously, and as often denied, that Mr. Wood some years ago had joined a La-' bor League in his electorate. Mr. Wood: I say you are not man enov.gh to say it outside. If you come out there I will discuss the matter with i

Mr. Griffith (rising): Well, I do say you were a member of the league. With this he walked, towards the lobby behind the Speaker's chair, and the Chief Secretary immediately rose and made his way towards the same lobby past the Speaker's right hand. Mr, James, a leading Government supporter, seized Mr. Wood by the arm, and endeavored, with the assistance of Mr. Ball, to detain him.

The two principals in the matter, upon reaching the lobby, with the very briefest preliminary ceremony, began hostilities. The Chief Secretary, lowering his head and extending his loft, rushed in, and landed with the forearm on the member for Sturt's right shoulder. The latter, perhaps the more scientific of the pair, plied his opponent's ribs with a volley of- short right and left swings, which, owing to the short range, "lacked sting," as they say.

Matters had readied this interesting stage when streams of lion, members surged out of both doors of the Chaniber, and, mingling with the torrent of pressmen who flew down the gallery stairs, carried the gladiators completely off their feet. In the excitement that prevailed neither hon. pugilist could for a time be sorted out of the gabbling, gesticulating, surging crowdj but eventually they were induced to return to the Chamber, where Mr Beeby had been speaking to a row of empty benches.