TALKED OUT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 194, 12 May 1924, Page 7

TALKED OUT

HOME RULE FOR SCOTLAND BILL PANDEMONIUM IN HOUSE OF COMMONS SPEAKER DECLINES CLOSURE MOTION By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. (Rec. May 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 9. There was a scene of ujiroar in the House of Commons in consequence of the Speaker allowing the Home Rule for Scotland Bill to be talked out. The Bill provides for the establishment in Scotland of a single chamber of Parliament. with 143 members, Scotland continuing the present representation in the House of Commons until a general devolution scheme has been instituted for the United Kingdom. Mr. G. Buchanan, Labour M.P., Glasgow, in moving the second reading, claimed that the Scots almost unanimously favoured the scheme in order to relieve the congestion in the House of Commons. Mr. T. Johnson, Labour M.P., for West Stirling, seconded the motion. Sir John Baird. Conservative M.P. for Ayr, moved the rejection of the Bill, and a number of Ministerial Scotsmen finally endeavoured to move the closure, but the Speaker declined to accept it, whereupon there was pandemonium in the Labour benches; Mr. D Kirkwood, Labour M.P. for Dumbarton, and others, angrily shouting and contesting the fairness of the Speaker’s decision, saying this was the first private Bill this session which had the. closure refused. Mr. W. Adamson, president of the Board of Education, said the- Government approved of the general principle of the Bill, and hoped it would be seconded hy an overwhelming majority. The Government was prepared to appoint a committee to examine the whole question and report to the House, because a vital issue was concerned, and one of equal importance to the English and Welsh communities also.

The Speaker admitted that earlier he intended to accept the closure, but iustifiedi his action 'oy referring to an incident in the debate when Labourites and Liberals objected.. A member of the Opposition bench being called upon to speak on the ground that two Opposition front benchers had previously spoken, a fresh pandemonium ensued.. Mr. Kirkwood was particularly furious. Tie flung his arms about and shouted an attack on the Speaker. Mr. J. M. Hogge (Edinburgh East), endeavoured to continue the discussion in defiance of the Speaker’s ruling, and was threatened with suspension. The Sneaker finally declared the House adjourned.- Reuter.