BLOWS STRUCK IN LOBBY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 7

BLOWS STRUCK IN LOBBY

QUEENSLAND M.P. AND MINISTER SEQUEL TO QUESTIONS ABOUT ART UNION ... BRISBANE, November 24. After acrimonious scenes in the Queensland Parliament and an exchange of blows in the lobby between the Minister of Agriculture (Mr H. H. Collins» and a Liberal member, Mr Bruce Pie, the Queensland Government last night refused an Opposition request for a Royal Commission into the alleged mismanagement of the Golden Casket Art Union, which is a Government-sponsored lottery. Later, Opposition members demanded that Mr Speaker take action against Mr Collins. The incident was the climax tee a series of questions by Mr Pie on Golden Casket drawings and a demand by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr G. F. R. Nicklin) for a Royal Commission. The Opposition alleged that a private company, knowh as Golden Investments, which sold tickets to country, inter-State, and overseas clients, had won a number of prizes on tickets purchased by the company owners in their own or assumed names. The Attorney-General said that company owners had won five major prizes worth £15,300 between 1942 and 1949. Mr Nicklin claimed that it was possible for an agent to buy blocks of unsold tickets which would be included in the drawing. The agent could then collect on tickets which drew prizes and post unsuccessful tickets to clients. Mr Pie Suspended When the Government tabled the number of • tickets asked for by the Opposition, Mr Fie said: “The Government will come at anything.” When asked to withdraw. Mr Pie said: “If the Government doesn’t grant a Royal Commission to inquire into this thing, then the Government will come at anything.” He was then suspended for two hours. Mr Collins and Mr Pie clashed when they were returning to the Chamber. Witnesses said that Mr Collins spoke to Mr Pie, who replied. Mr Collins immediately rushed and struck Mr Pie in the mouth. Mr Pie, who is a former amateur boxer, knocked him to the floor, where Mr Collins grasped Mr Pie’s legs. In the melee Parliamentarians, police, and staff members struggled in the hall-way to keep the men apart. Ministers and prominent Opposltioh members were heard to utter threats to fight each other. On Mr Pie’s return to the Chamber With a cut lip, Mr Nicklin called upon Mr Speaker to deal with the Minister Earlier in the debate, Mr J. F. Barnes (Independent) was suspended for the remainder of the session. Known as the “Buhgaberg Bombshell,” he has now beeh suspended nine times since 1941. Three years ago he gained the verdict before the Full Court for wrongful ejectment by the police from Parliament. On being suspended this time, he walked out, saying “Goodbye, skufiks. Good-bye, Speaker skunk.”