IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3038, 29 July 1893, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

DISGRACEFUL SCENE IN THE HOU3K

A FREE FIGHT.

London, July 27. Mr J. Bedmond, m ihe course of an interview, gave his views upon the immediate result of Home Bule. He thought th*t tho priests would practically elect tbe first Parliament and afterwards the Catholic minority who objected to clerical influence, would unite with the Protestants and form a strong Opposition. London, July 28.

An unprecedented scene occurred m the House of Commons last night just before the closure was finally applied to the Home Kule Bill. Mr Chamberlain taunted the Ministerialists with regarding every scheme emanating from the Premier as perfect. If, said he, Mr Gladstone, called anything black they said good, if white, better. They always considered his dictum as the voice of God. Never since the days of Herod was there such slavish adulation. Amid a scene of wild confusion Mr Mellor, Chairman of Committee?, enforced the closure. Disorder reigned supreme, the Government party dheering, and shouts of rage mingled with cries of "shume," "gag," "time," "Judas," were heard from all parts. Mr Chamberlain rose to put a question, but had to confine himself to dumb show. The Ministerialists refused to allow him to be hevrd, and kept up an incessant noise. MrVicary Gibbs, Conservative member for St Albans, amid a medley of inarticulate betlowings, also tried to get the chairman's ear m order to report Mr T. P. O'Connor, who, he said, insulted Mr Chamberlain by reiterated cries of " Judas." He demanded that the word should be taken down, but Mr Mellor ignored Mr Gibbs' proposal and said he had not heard the epithet. He then ordered the division to proceeds Some Ministerialist* obeyed, but the bulk of the Opposition would not go . into the lobbies until their claim for justice was attended to. Suddenly a fierce melee occurred on the floor of the House, and the Speaker was summoned. Mr O'Connor then apologised, and the Bill was finally jassed through Committee. Mr Arnold Foster, during the scene m the House of Commons shouted out " Why associate with the bloody Irish rebels." Mr B'isher, Conservative member for Fulham, threw Mr Logan, of Leicester, from his seat, and Colonel Saunderson squared up and hit Mr Austin, of Limerick, and Mr Cream, ©f Ossory. The latter responded manfully, and the Nationalists and Tories then broke into a free fight, swearing and shouting at each other. Overcome with contempt at the scene before them the strangers m the calleries r036 and hibsed the members below. Lord Rosebery, m xeply to a question m the House of Lords, said that the Government had not been informed of the date or extent of the blockade of Bangkok. He regretted the necessity, as it would raise a difficult question of inter-State law. England had refused to interfere. He regretted that the French regarded the presence of the English gunboats as an indication of their intention to assist Siam, whose resistance was hopeless. He had advised that the quarrel should be settled by a compromise. It was important to have a neutral zone between French and English territory m the peninsula. The French Government had not defined whether tha blockade waa specific or warlike. He added that M. Deville had eluded many interviews which the British Ambassador sought, alleging: pressure of business. Sir E. Grey, replying to Mr Curzon, as to the nature of the Pacific blockading, said tint it was a debatable question, but that France had promised a ss»fe conduct for ships loaded before the blockade began. English operations would be con- I fined to the protection of life and property. (Received July 29, 12.15 p.m.) London, July 27. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Logan crossed the Chamber and exchanged hot words with Mr Carson. The latter retorted "You are one of the gagging gang." Mr Logan then occupied Mr Balfour's seat. Messrs Kayes and Fisher, who were behind, seized him by the neck, and Sir E. Ashmed Bartlett his legs, and he was ejected. A free fight .followed, during whish the Radical punished the Conservative, and the Conservative whip seized the Radical by the scruff of his neck and shook him. A number of Irish members attacked the Opposition gangway, and instantly the whole gangway was a confused mass—shouting, struggling, and fighting. Members climbed over benches to join m the melee. Ine Unionists, whowerelockedout, clamoured for admittance. Messrs Burdett Coutts, Condon, W. Redmond, and Healy were conspicuous m the fray. Colonel Saunderson hit out boldly, felling several members. Mr O'Brien, standing on a seat, vainly implored the members to maintain order. Dr Tanner's friends helped him out of the row. Mr Burns shouldered members right and left, and tried to supj press ttie : disorder. IHshmen were knocked down and trampled upon, Healy fell after a fierce struggle ot five minutes. The strangers m the gallery hissed'and cried "Shame.'Mr Gladstone sat at the table, mute, white, and calm, but appeared tq be greatly I pained at the scene {hough he did nothing ;ostop it. Sic Ashmead Bartlett, ad dressing the Premier, shouted "■ This is your doings." The Sergeant,at-Arms made an ineffectual attempt to clear the House, The-back of one of the benches was wrenched of j shirts, coats, and waistcoats were torn from the backs of members ; and a quantity of jewellery was picked up on the floor of the Chamber after a quarter of an hour's uproar. Lord R.Churchill and Messrs A. J. Balfour and J. Chamberlain restored some order, and the Chairman of Committees consented to report tha matter to th« Speaker, who returned immediately and order" was insfantly restored. He rebuked the House with great dignity, and urged Mr O'Connor to apologise, which he did. , , The financial clause passed by a major rityof2,l. Several new clauses, dealing with local taxation, and the postponed clauses, were passed entirely without discussion by majorities of 33. lhe schedulps were carried—the second by only 17, the others by 30. Atter the final division Mr Gladstone left the Chamber. He was loudly cheered amid ciies of "Gag" and. »Ok dog Tray" * " The BUI will be reported on August 7. The "Standard" and several other leading city newspapers characterise the sSnefs a lasting disgrace to the House of Commons.