A Violent Scene

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 15 November 1912, Page 5

A Violent Scene

IN THE HOUSE 0F COMMONS

CABINET MINISTERS ASSAULTED

(United Press Association — By Electrie Telegraph —Copyright.)

(ilccuived This Morning, 12.20 o'clock.) LUNDON, November L 4. - Ixi the House of Comwotu, Sir Rufus isuics, 011 rising to reply on behalf of tho Government, on the molion to rescind Sir 11.I 1 . Banbury s amendment; was assailed with shouts for "Asquith!" and cries of "Adjourn! Adjourn!" ! When the sitting was resumed, Sir Eufus Isaacs made a second attempt to speak, but was frustrated by cries of "Adjourn!" Tho Speaker called upon the Unionists to speak, but their friends "kept up the chant, "Adjourn! Adjourn!" The Speaker's appeals were without result. Finally, the Speaker said: "It is obvious that the Opposition will not allow further progress to be made. The sitting is adjourned. ' s TUMULTUOUS DISORDER, Tremendous Unionist cheers followed, and the House broke up in tumultuous disorder. Cheering and singing continued for some minutes. Ministers stood facing the demonstrators on the benches opposite. A crumpled order paper was thrown at the Premier, and another fell near Sir Rufus Isaacs, but neither took the slightest notice of them. Meanwhile, Mr Ronald McNeill,.Unionist member for Kent, seized the Speaker's copy of tho Standing Orders and flung it across the floor, apparently at Mr Winston Churchill. The book struck and bruised Mr Churchill's face. Mr Churchill started up angrily, but was restrained by Messrs J. W. Gu I land and John Burns.

Mil BON All LAW'S SPEECH. \1 r Bonar Law, towards the dose of his speech, recalled the fact that in 3905, when Mr Balfour refused to resign under different •circumstances, Mr Redmond vowed that he would make the continuance of the Government impossible. Mr Bonar Law, quoting Sir Edward Grey's strong endorsement of Mr Redmond's words, said, "Coalition in our place would break the Parliamentary machine and compel an appeal to the people. I leave it at that."

ANGRY SCENES. Captain James Craig, luiionist member for Tyneniouth, in seconding Sir F. Banbury's motion, described the Government caucus as led by rebels. The Premier listened quietly to the violent outburst punctuating the proceedings. A most angry scene occurred during Mr E. M. Pollock's speech, in which the Premier 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 in the same session. The I Premier, lie said, had torn up that rule to suit his own particular purnose. (Opposition cheers and cries of "Traitor!") WHO SAID TRAITOR? 'I he Speaker asked who said "Traitor!" Therouponi Sir William Bull, Colonel Chaloner and Mr Charles

Craig said they did. The Speaker called upon Sir William Bull to withdraw the word; but he declined, and repeated "Traitor!" He was then ordered to withdraw from the House for the day. Saying, "I will!" he left the Chamber, amidst Opposition cheers. Mr Pollock concluding, predicted that the Premier would bo remembered for generations as a man who had broken up Parliament as a deliberative assembly. pandemonium. Pandemonium then ensued. As Ministers filed slowly out, their supporters leapt to their feet. Some, mounting the benches, cheered wildly. From the Opposition benches camo shouts "No Home Rule!" "No surrender!" and "Sacked!" As tho Unionists derisively cheered the departing Cabinet Ministers incensed Radicals, pointed to the Opposition, hissed and shouted "Gentlemen of England!" The cry cum© back: "Rats!" This was repeated again and again, , mutu.il jeering continuing for five minutes ns the House emptied. ASSAULT ON THE MINISTER. One version of the assault on Mr Winston Churchill is that- cries of "Rats!" were levelled at one-or two Ministers, formerly Conservatives. Mr Winston Churchill waved liis handkerchief to encourage the Liberals to cheer the Premier, and before, rei turning his handkerchief to his pocket, he waved it towards the Opposition. This incensed Mr McNeill. | The situation became threatening, a IK- some feared that violence would be used on the floor, similar to that of 1893; but Mr, Crooks, shouting "Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot." turned anger into momentary laughter.

ATTITUDE OF UNIONISTS. The Unionist leaders afterwards resolved not to allow the debate on the Premier's resolution to continue, unless the Government could find a Parliamentary mid constitutional way out of the difficulty. Another factor is the possibility of the Speaker resigning if the grave disorder continues.