A VIOLENT FINISH.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 309, 12 January 1912, Page 2

A VIOLENT FINISH.

ROWDY SCENES IN PARLIAMENT. SESSION ENDS IN -UPROAR. BLOWS THREATENED. SYDNEY, Dec. 19. "A sensational ending to a sensational session," was the comment of one member of the Legislative Assembly last night. The comment was very near the mark, for the House broke up amid scenes of disorder, temper, and violence, which surely formed the culminating point of a Par liamentary period which will stand in the history of New South Wales as one of its most -deplorable incidents. Vigour of debate has all too frequently descended into mere violence of language, and members who, in private life, would scorn to take part in such proceedings, have either participated in, or been the unwilling witnesses of scenes that would have done no credit to an Assembly possessing far less claim to recognition than the State Government of an immense colonv.

The trouble began when the Premier mo'ved th© adjournment of the House until Monday. February 19th. Mr McGowen euid that members would acquit his party of anything but a serious desire to do their work well and conscientiously. There- might be political differences, but the feelings of all true men were never carried beyond tho_ Chamber. During his long connection with -'Parliament "he could always moot his political opponents as friends outside of the House. He expressed his appreciation of the faithful discharge of their duties by tho officers of the House, and concluded that lie hoped to finish the session in April or_ May. Mr Wade, who rose immediately the Premier had resumed his seat, said that tho humiliation and. degradation to which the House had been subjected during the preceding three months had become a matter of notoriety.

The Speaker at once called upon Mr Wade to withdraw the word "degradation" and apologise. Mr Wade accordingly apologised, adding that ho would not "give it a name nor discuss it; but what they had been subjected to during the pa«t three months could not be wiped out nor effaced from their memories. They could not bo expected to try and forgive or forget tho past. Ho did not want to dwell on the matter, or accentuate present differences, and ho merely remarked upon tho resentment which Opposition members felt to tho treatment meted out to thorn. There was at once considerable uproar and disorder, and the Speaker told members that they must be well behaved. "I must, tell the Leader of the Opposition." said the Speaker, "that ho has offended twice. He must not revive old debates, and mu§t be amenable to tho rules." Mr Wade said he had made no reference to old debates, but had simply referred to tho conditions of Parliament, which it was not expected they could efface from their minds.

The Premier: "Forget it, for the time being- and have a glass of champagne. Mr Wade: "A good deal depends on tho company you have." Loud Opposition cheering greeted the retort, and. proceeding, Mr Wade asked if it was intended to bo a rule that the Speaker could alter the speech of a member of tho Houso in Hansard. ? Tho Speaker : If the hon. member offends again I will havo him removed. Without concluding his speech, Mr Wade at once deliberately and calmly walked out of the Chamber, whilst cheers and countercheers were indulged in by members on the two sides of tho House.

There' were no other speeches, and when the Speaker rose, he was greeted with loud groans and varid observations. Declaring that "the House do now adjourn," the Speaker stepped from his rostrum, and shook hands with several members of the Government prior to his departure from the Chamber. Meanwhile, members of both Government, and Opposition crowded into the lobby, and as Mr Willis passed through to his own room he was the subject of an angry demonstration on the part of members of the Opposition, who, lining up in disorderly array, greeted him with groans and cries of general condemnation, several very pointed references to his treatment of the "Hansard" chief being distinctly audible above the din, which arose to its pitch of highest, violence as Mr Willis was in the act of entering the Speaker's room. Government members were- also on the scene in big numbers, answering with every sign of bitterness the calls of the Oppositionists, and for several seconds the lobby looked like being the scene of actual fisticuffs, for at least one member of the Government showed anxiety to "get at" a political opponent, and was only hold back by the superior \physical forco" of half a dozen colleagues. A Minister and an exMinister were also at severe loggerheads, whilst the shouting attracted both members and strangers- from all parts of the building, who, crowding into the lobby, made the disoider all the more pronounced. For several minutes the demonstration and counter demonstration was k«pt up, and though no blows were struck, this was not, be.causo the would-be temper was not, there, or because the woidd-be participants were ablo to display any wide measure of selfrestraint. Gradually, however, tempers cooled, and a touch of the ludicrous was added to the situation when Mr G. Miller led a few of his fellow members in the singing of "Who Killed Cock Robin ?"—still, by the way. in the lobby—and whilst Opposition members returned to their room prior to departure from the House itself. Government, members sought the refreshment room from whence could subsequently be heard the vocal strains of a more or loss melodious character, indicating a return to the harmony of mind in which all the members of the Assembly might have joined had they not, been kept back bv a perfectly human .mabibty to shali{e off, at bidding, the memory of months of flagrant injustice. j But, it was a sorry wind-up nevertheless.