FIGHT IN PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1919, Page 12

FIGHT IN PARLIAMENT.

I . NEW SOUTH WALES SCENE. LABOR MEMBERS ANGRY, Sydney, Sept. 24. The Parliament of New South Wales, always notorious more or less for a certain element of disorderliness, ha? again .had recourse to fisticuffs. A very complete and satisfactory description of a "scene" has decorated the chief pages of all the newspapers. There is at present a very bitisi- feeling in this Parliament—due mostly to the unflattering reputation which the existing Government has acquired—and a debate on the Estimates last week was long drawn out and acrimonious. The Acting.Leader of the House, Mr. D. R. Hall, about daybreak, began to use the closure to force through the Estimates, and the Labor men became excited, and then sullen. They threat 3nod Mr. Hall with personal violence, but Mr. Hall went serenely on. Then, us the parties were passing each other on the floor after a division, the Labor whip, Mr. Lang, suddenly struck out at Mr. Hall. The Government whip, Mr. Hoskins, jumped in to the assistance of Mr. Hall, who is a small, pale nun, and ' grabbed Mr. Lang by the collar. He tripped Mr. Lang, got him on the fluor, and seemed to wish to sit on him. Mr. Stuart Roliertson, an excitaV.le erratic person of extreme views, dashed out from the Labor side, and attacked Mr. Hoskins. Mr. Lang got fre- ana resumed his attentions to Mr. Ila'l. By this time Mr. James, the Minister for Education, and another member were in the fray, but their whole effort v/as required to separate the altruistic Mr. Hoskins and the infuriated Mr. Robertson. Mr. Hall, diminutive, but active, had to. depend upon himself against his heavilybuilt assailant. So he adopted a s.jit of football tackle. He put his head into Mr. Lang's stomach, grabbed him muid the knees, and over they both vent together. Then a general rush of members from both sides put an end to the melee. Apologies and regrets were expressed and decorum was restored.