Political Crisis

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 153, 15 November 1912, Page 5

Political Crisis

r —, —-» SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. ATTORNEY-GENERAL HOWLED DOWN. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, November 13. Mr. Asquith moved the recision of Sir F. G. Banbury's amendment, which, ne said, was fatal and made it impossible to proceed with the Bill . If the House reaffirmed Sir F. G. Banbury's amendment, she would accept the decision. (Opposition cries of "Cheap bluff!") The Speaker, replying to Mr. Bonar Law, said that the motion was in order, though unprecedented. Still, he would not the House should never form a new precedent. The Opposition hotly criticised the Government. Mr. Bonar Law moved the adjournment of the debate, but this was negatived :by a majority of 109 votes. Sir F. Banbury moved that when the question was once decided it should not again be raised during the same session. The proposed recision was- an affront to the decision of the House of Commons. There were scenes of disorder, and the sitting was suspended for an hour. Sir Rufus Isaacs was refused a ingOn resuming, the disorder was returned, and the Speaker adjourned the sitting until to-morrow. MR. CHURCHILL ASSAULTED. THE SITTING SUSPENDED. "YE GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND." Received 15, 12.20 ajn. London, November 14. In the House of Commons, Sir Rufus Isaacs, Attorney-General, rising to reply on behalf of the Government, was asv sailed with shouts for Mr. Asquith and cries of "Adjourn! adjourn!" When the sitting resumed, Sir Rufus Isaacs made a second attempt to speak, but was frustrated by cries of "Adjourn!" The Speaker called on the Unionists to speak, but their friends kept up the chant of "Adjourn! adjourn!" The Speaker's appeals were resultless, and finally he said that it was obvious that the Opposition would not allow further progress, and the sitting was adjourned amid tremendous Unionist cheers. Thet House broke up in tumultuous disorder, cheering and singing. For some minutes the Minister stood facing the demonstrators' benches opposite. A crumpled up order paper was thrown at the Prime Minister, and another fell near Sir R. Isaacs. Neither took the slightest notice. Meanwhile Mr. Ronald McNeill seized the Speaker's copy of the Standing Orders and flung it across the' floor, apparently at Mr. Churchill. Tht book struck and bruised Mr. Churchill's face. Mr. Churchill started angrily, but was restrained by Messrs. Gulland and Burns. Received 15, 12.30 a.m.

In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law, towards the close of his speech, recalled the fact that in 1905, when Mr. Balfour refused to resign under different circumstances, Mr. Redmond vowed to make the continuance of,the Government impossible. Mr. Bonar Law, quoting Sit Edward Grey's strong endorsement oi Mr. Redmond's words, said that a coalition would break the Parliamentary machine and compel an appeal to the people. "I leave it at that," he concluded. Captain Craig, seconding Sir F. Banbury's motion, described the Government as a caucus led by rebels. The Prime Minister listened quietly to the violent outbursts punctuating the proceedings. There was a most angry scene during Mr. Pollock's speech, wherein the Prime Minister was accused of disregarding the rules of the House, dating from 1610, that when a matter of substance was determined one way it must not be determined another way the same session. The Prime Minister, he said, tore up. that rule to suit his own particular purpose. (Opposition cries'of "Traitor!") The Speaker said that if he knew who •aid "traitor"

Thereupon Messrs. Bull, Chaloner, Charles and Craig, interrupting, said that they did. The Speaker called on Mr. Bull to withdraw, and he declined, and repeated "Traitor!" He was then ordered to withdraw for the day, and, saying "I will," left amidst Opposition cheers. Mr. Pollock, concluding, predicted that the Prime Minister would be remembered lor generations as the man who broke «p Parliament as a deliberative assembly. Pandemonium ensued, and as Ministers filed slowly out tlieir supporters leapt to tlieir feet, some mounting benches, *nd cheered wiltlly. From the Opposition benches came shouts of "Xo Home Rule!" "No surrender!" and "Sacked" and, as the Unionists derisively cheered the departing Cabinet Ministers, incensed Radicals, pointing to tlie Opposition, hissed shouted "Gentlemen of England!" The cry came back "Rats!" and this was repeated again and again, mutual I jeering continuing for five minutes as the House emptied. One version of the assault on Mr. Churchill is that the cries of ••Rats'' were levelled at one or two Ministers! who •were formerly Conservatives. Mr. Churchill waved his handkerchief to encourage the Liberals to cheer the Prime Minister, and before pocketing it waved it towards the Opposition. This incensed Mr. McNeil. The situation was threatening, and for some time it was feared thaAhere would be violence on the floor of the House similar to that of 1893, but Mr. Crooks shouting "Should auld acquaintance be forgot" turned anger into momentary laughter. The Unionist leader afterwards resolved not to allow the debate on the Prime Minister's resolution to continue unless the Government could find a Parliamentary and constitutional way out of the difficulty. < Another factor is the possibility of the Speaker resigning if grave disorder continues.