SCENE IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20670, 18 December 1930, Page 13

SCENE IN PARLIAMENT

THREAT OF FISTICUFFS M THEODORE ANNOYED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CANBERRA, December 17. There was an angry scene in the House of Representatives to-night when Mr Fenton introduced a schedule to impose an export duty of a halfpenny per lb on sheepskins in wool, obviously with the idea of helping the local fcliraongery industry. . Opposition members shouted: “Scandalous! How much did the Labour Party get out of this?” Somebody interjected-something about the Mungana leaves, which brought Mr Theodore to his feet. He walked towards tho Opposition benches amid a terrific din, and a fight seemed imminent, but the intervention of members from both sides of tho House prevented a display of fisticuffs. Mr Fenton announced that tho Government was allocating £500,000 for unemployed Christmas cheer, and not £50,000 as previously stated. “ ALL SENSE OF DECENCY LOST " SYDNEY, December 18. (Received December 18, at 10.30 a.m.) Tho ‘Herald' and the ‘Pictorial’ describe tho scene in the Federal Parliament last, night as the most disgraceful ever witnessed. Mr Fenton’s opening words were received with an uproar from the Opposition inembers, who shouted; “ This is tho worst job that has ever been put over here,” Mr Green: It is barefaced robbery. Mr Earkhill: It is an absolute swindle. Mr Gullett: And a public scandal. Tho Chairman of Committees vainly called for order, but the disorder became overwhelming. Mr Fenton resumed bis seat, and upon continuing later the remark about tho Mungana leases caused a violent storm. The Speaker abruptly left the chair, and the scene culminated when Mr Theodore and Mr Latham came to grips and struggled, while many of their colleagues formed an excited ring round them. “All sense of decency was lost in uncontrolled rage.”