IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 88, 13 April 1923, Page 7

IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT

LABOUR MEMBERS IN UPROAR SPEAKER SUSPENDS SITTING. (UNITIC FRIII ASSOCUTIOX^-COFTRIMT.) (AUSTRALIAN - SEIT ZEALAND CAIM ASSOCIATION.) LONDON; 11th April. In reference to the snap division in the House of Commons, Mr. Ramsay Macdonald said that the Government last night had suffered an unexampled defoat. It-was defeated becaufte several Government supporters voted against it. Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith (Lab.) oaid the Labour Party, in the interests of the ex-service men., was not pressing . its tactical advantage. Sir Frederick Bftntmry (Con.), City of London, 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. | Sir. Lees-Smith claimed that' Labour members were behaving with great restraint. p Jeering remarks from the Conservatives provoked fierce retorts from the Labour members. After Mr. George Lansbury (Lab.) had insisted that the Government should give a satisfactory assurance regarding' the ex-service men before the •' House consented to go into Committee of Supply again, several Labour members rose to continue the debate. SIGNAL FOR TUMULT. Then Mr. Baldwin moved the closure. ■ This was the signal for a tumultuous Labour demonstration, loud cries of "Adjourn!" being followed up by the singing of the "Red Flag." The Speaker appealed to them, to follow the principles of their leader, whereupon the Labour membors renewed the Uproar, and the Speaker declared the motion carried. Mr. Will Thorne (Lab.) ■ asked the Speaker to adjourn the sitting for a time, in view of the excitement, but the Speaker replied that ifc would bo a bad precedent to adjourn because of disorder. Mr. Thorne; "You cannot get on with thu business.-" Mr. Prettyman (Con.) rose and opened the next business, and the. Labour members began singing, with mechanical repetitions of "Sit dpwn!" and "Speak up!" For three minutes" Mr. Prettyman stood without being heard. Mr. Maedonald for a moment stilled the uproar, but it "broke out again, Mr. Will Thorno "shouting to the. Speaker: "You may as well adjourn," and other Labour members shouting across the Chamber: "You dirty dogs!"' The Speaker then rose, amidst a turmoil, and suspended the sitting for an hour, the announcement being received with oxultant cries by the Labour . members. . . EXCITING INCIDENT. As the members were quitting the Chamber an exciting incident occurred. A group of Labour members suddenly dashed across the Chamber near the Speaker's chair, and. confronted a knot of Ministerialists, including Mr. W. G. Qrmsby-Gore, Colonial Under-Secretnry. Suddenly a fist shot out close to Mr, Ormsuy-Gor'e's liead,". andj.lie put' up his arms to wml off the blow. Mr. Mac-' donald iind Mr. Stanley Baldwin endeavoured to intervene, and a scuffle followed in the lobbies, but the. sequel was .lost to the .Press Gallery. - '"' . "-'• ■ :

When the session was resumed at ■ 7 o'clock the House was crowded. The Speaker immediately rose and Enid : "In view of the grave disoi'ders in the House, by virtue of my powers undoi- the Standing Orders, I adjourn the House." Without a question being put, the Speaker left the Chair, and members then left the Chamber without further Jisordor.

The Speaker of the House of Commons s the Right Hon. J. H. Whitley.