TEMPERS RAISED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1938, Page 8

TEMPERS RAISED

EPISODE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

GOVERNMENT MEMBER'S FACE

SLAPPED. ADMISSION OF PROVOCATIVE REMARK. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. (Recd This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. The House of Commons was thrown into a state of turmoil at question time when Commander Bower, British naval officer and boxing champion, had his face slapped by Mr E. Shinwell (Labour), following on Commander Bower’s retort to a foreign affairs question. , .... The Speaker had to intervene to prevent Mr Shinwell asking a supplementary question. Mr Shinwell’s persistence caused Government supporters to protest. Commander Bower's remark “Go back to Poland,” addressed to Mr Shinwell, resulted in Mr Shinwell crossing the Chamber and giving Commander Bower, who is one of the biggest men in the House, a resounding slap on the face. Mr Shinwell returned to his seat and said, “I was born in England and am a British subject. The honourable gentleman had no right to make such reference. My method was the only protection open to me.”

The Speaker said he would ignore the incident if each membe£ apologis-

Mr Shinwell, attributing his action to heat of temper, apologised to the House and left the Chamber, after which Commander Bower admitted the provocativeness of his remark, and said he would have apologised if Mr Shinwell had remained. The incident then closed.