UPROAR IN THE COMMONS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 176, 13 April 1923, Page 5

UPROAR IN THE COMMONS

LABOUR MEMBERS GET OUT OF HAND SPEAKER ADJOURNS THE HOUSE \ SCUFFLE IN THE LOBBIES There were disorderly scenes in the House of Commons. A motion by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the House on the morrow should go into Committee of Supply caused an angry debate, and when Mr. Baldwin moved the closure there was a tumultuous Labour demonstration. As a result of the disorders the. Speaker adjourned the House. As members were quitting the Chamber a blow was aimed at Captain Ormsby-Gore, and a scuffle ensued in the lobbies.

I BY THLIGISIPH—PBHW ASSOCIATION. —CoPTBiaHT.

(Rec. April, 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 11.

the p-inciples of their leader, whereupon the Labourites renewed the uproar, and the Speaker declared themotion carried. Mr. Will Thorne (Lab.), asked the Speaker to adjourn the sitting for a time in view of the excitement, bu t the Speaker replied that it would b® a. bad precedent to adjourn because of disorder. „ r x ... Mr. Thorne: You cannot get on with business. , Mr. Pretyman (C.) rose and opened the next business, and Labour mem bars began singing, with mechanics', repetitions of “Sit down” and “Speak up.” For three minutes Mr. Pretymar stood without be-in" heard. Mr. MacDonald for a moment stilled the uproar, but it broke out again Mr. lyill Thorne shouting to the Speaker: “You may as well adjourn.’ and other Labour members shoutm" acrosi the Chamber, "You dirtv dogs. ’ {< The Speaker rose, and amidst turmoil suspended the sitting for. an hour the announcement being received with exultant Labour cries.

Mr. Ramsay .MacDonald, leader of the Labour Party, in the House of Commons, asked for the Speaker’s ruling on the - contention that the proposal to go to Sunply was the same motion on which the House gave a definite decision last night.

The Speaker disagreed that the moiion was a repetition, holding that the word “now” in the motion “That the Speaker do now leave the chair’ makes the motion a-'-'l’T to that particular dayand does not prevent a similar motion at a later day. s - Motion to Co Into Supply. Mr. Stanley Baldwin. Chancellor of the Exchequer, then moved: “Thai the House to-morrow resolves into Committee of Supply.” He said that what had really happened was that the Government "was caught napping. Last night’s decision was no proof that -the Government had lost tho confidence of the House. ~ Mr. Ramsav MacDonald said the Government last ni"ht suffered an unexampled defeat. It was defeated because several Government supporters voted against it Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith (Lab.) sate the Labour Party, in the interests of ex-service men, was not pressing its tactical advantage. Sir Frederick Banbury (C.), on rising apparently on a point of order, was greeted with a prolonged angry roar from the Labour benches, and resumed his seat amidst ironical laughter. Mr. Lees-Smith claimed that tn® Labour members were behaving 'with great restraint. Jeering remarks from the Conservatives provoked fierce retorts from Labour mombers.

Members Come to Blows. As members were quitting the Chamber an exciting incident occurred. A group of Labour members suddenly dashed across tho Chamber near the Speaker’,s chair, and confronted a knot of Ministerialists, including Captain Ormsby-Gore. Suddenly a fist shot out close to Captain Ormsby-Gore’s head, and he put up his arms to ward off tho blow. Mr. MacDonald and Mr Baldwin endeavoured to intervene and a scuffle followed in the lobbies, whence angry cries were heard, but the sequel was lost to the Press-Gallery.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE (Rec. April 12, 7.20 n.m.) London, April 11. When the House of Commons resumed at 7 o’clock the Chamber was Crowded. The Speaker immediately rose and said: “In view of the'grave disorders in the House, by. virtue of my powers under the Standing Orders I adjourn the House.” Without the question being put, the Speaker l®ft the chair and members left the Chamber without further disorder. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Tumultuous Labour DemonstrationAfter Mr. Lansbury had insisted that the Government should give a satisfactory _ assurance regarding, exservice men before the House consented to go into Committee of Supply again, several Labour members rose to continue the debate. Then Mr Baldwin moved the closure, and this nas the signal for a tumultuous Labour demonstration loud cries of “Adjourn” being followed up bv the singing of the Red Flag. The Speaker appealed to Labour members to follow