THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13110, 8 May 1908, Page 7

THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

STORMY SCENE IX PARLIAMENT.

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. (Received May Bth, 12.58 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 7.

There was a stormy scene in tho Federal House during the discussion on the kerosene duties. Sir William Lyne interjected: ''I am told there is no use going on because tho Standard Oil Company have members in their bag."

Mr Reid, rising on a point of order, characterised this as a elanderous statement. It was a scandalous thing to cay. It was giving currency to infamous slanders uttered outside, to say that a member could bo bought in connection with tho tariff. It was most abominable that the greatest slander over cast on members should came from a Minister of tho Crown.

Sir William Lyne interjected: "I say deliberately that such a message has been brought to mc," and added, amidst a storm of dissent, that tho company had been to every member and- tried to get a promise. Tho company lmd got a list of members who had promised them support. "So muoh has been said about this outside, that 1 turned the representative of the company out of my office. It is a scandal that men should bo sent from America to forco such a matter through." Hβ cast no imputation upon members, but they had quite enough of this from America. How were members influenced? Hβ said by persuasion, and did not know that any member was bribed.

A noisy eceno continued for a considerable time, members hotly attacking Sir Wm. Lyno and denying being approached by tho Standard Oil Company. ■>

Eventually Sir William Lyne withdrew the charge unreservedly. Pressed to give tho name of his informant, ho stated that the information came from ono of his colleagues.