"OUT YOU GO!"

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 July 1908, Page 1

"OUT YOU GO!"

EXTRAORDINARY SCENES IN A PREMIER'S OFFICE. UNEMPLOYED IN MELBOURNE. Extraordinary scenes were enacted in tbe Victorian Premier's room on June 26th during an interview which Sir Thomas Bent bad granted to a deputation which desired to secure special consideration for aged, infirm, or slow workers. The matter was briefly referred to in .a cable message. Mr Prendergast, M.L.A., introduced the deputation, which consisted of Mr S. Barker (secretary to the Trades Hall Coun- '" •'. Meagnoy (secretary to the Political Labour Council), Messrs S. J. Murray, F. Barker, and G. Callaway. Shortly after the interview commenced, a young man of spare build entered the room unannounced, and seated himself as il he were a member of the deputation. He handed to the representatives of the press a card, which Iwe the name, "Mr G. R. Beore," and displayed several documents, one of whgich was a cheoue. When the case for the deputation was being stated, Sir Thomas Bent, (holding in bis hand a report of a meeting at the Trades Hall, which had been addressed by Mr Heagnev, amongst others). interjected. "Where is Heagney and bis bakers' shops I want to hear something about him."

Mr Heagney: "T'll tell yon all you want to know about them." Sir Thomas Bent: You talk about spending money "placating supporters in the country." It only shows how ignorant you are. Mr Heagney : Thrat's a matter tA opinion. Sir Thomas Bent: Well, I'm not going to hoar you to-day. at any rate. You can go to the Trades Hall and talk. Mr Heagney: I won't ask you to hear mo. Sir Thomas Bent (pointing to tho door) : You can so. Mr Heagney : You g) round oho country scattering money to every shire council. Sir T. Bent (loudly): Out you go! Mr Heagney: I don't lose anything by going. Sir T. Bout (more loudly) :Out you go! Mr Heagney (walking towards the door): As to ignorance, you cannot talk. The Premier (also with anger) : You bad better clear out. I'll let you see. Mr Heagney left. At a latter stage Mr F. Barker was introduced. Sir Thomas Bent, to Barker (who is slightly deaf): Are you a. slow worker? Mr Barker (unsuspectingly) :Yes, sir. Sir Thomas Bent: You look it. Mr Prendergast made a remark in a quiet tone to Sir Thomas Bent. Sir Thomas Bent: I know him. Look in tin's morning's paper. I suppose if a man peppers me I'm to say nothing. F. Barker: I hope you won't tackle me with that sort of bluffing. I ask yon whether you will hear me?

Sir Thomas Bent: It's a matter for me whether I hear you or not, and I won't hoar you. Out yo go ! Mr Barker: Very well, sir. (Ho walked out of the room) Mr Beero asked whotherhc might speak on behalf of those who were not registered at the 'trades Hall. Mr S. Barker: No. Mr Boere: I appear on behalf of 500 men who are not on the Trades Hall register. Sir Thomas Bent: Do you mean that there are 1000 men—soo registered with you and 500 at tho Trades Hall? Mr Boere: Yes, 1002, I believe. Sir Thomas Bent: Then lot me tell you I don't believe it. Who and what are yon ? Mr Becre: I am here to see about the American fleet decorations. We start tomorrow. I have just seen the ActingLord Mayor, Sir Thomas Bent: Very well. I refer ,vou to the Acting-Lord Mayor. I will have nothing to do with it. Tho Lord Mayor has lots of money. He gets £250,000 a year. Mr Beere: It is stated that men cannot get work. Sir Thomas Bent: Can't you got men? Mr Becre : They have to ask Heagney first. Mr Prendergast: You're a liar. Mr Beere : You're a liar. Mr Prendergast walked to the other side of tho table, whore Mr Beere was standing, and said, "I'll smack you on the face if you call me a liar." Ho stood sideways to Mr Beere, and, lifting his left hand twice, was on the point apparently of slapping him with the back of his hand, but each time he appeared to restrain himself by an effort.

Tlvm Messrs S. Barker. Prendcrgast, and Beere all talked excitedly at the same time, with the Premier making a remark now and again. Mr 8. Barker told Mr Beere he was simply "barracking for his own barrow," and Mr Beere retorted: "You're a. creat judge. You have been living on that for years." Sir Thomas Bent (soothingly): "Now, now. I'll have to be sending for Slavin or Burns." Mr Prendercrast (with a sneer): Properly named Beere. Mr Beore: On, yon go to ■ Mr Prendcrgast, at this taunt, rushed rcund behind the Premier, but Mr Beere beat a. hasty retreat. As fast as Mr Prmidergast pot to one side, so speedily was Mr Beere in fretting to the other. "See how he runs; see how game he is, ' Mr Prendcrgast ejaculated, breathless from the unusual exercise ; but Mr Beere sprinted on, evidently determined not to permit his excited pursuer to come to closer quarters. Then Sir Thomas Bent, after Mr Beere had passed him for about the fourth lap, pushed back his chair, and standing up blocked the way in front of Mr Prendercrast. Mr Beere was by this time at the other end of the room, 'ls or 16 feet away from Mr Prendcrgast. He grabbed his hat, which was just near the door, and established a record in getting out of the room and off the premises. After further discussion the Premier said he would take the requests of the deputation to the Cabinet and sec what eoukrbc done. Later on members of.the deputation returned to the Trades Hall and reported progress to some 300 of the unemployed. Mr Heagney said lie considered that he could not bo of any further use to the unemployed, since the Premier had a personal objection to receiving him, and, therefore, he thought it proper that he. should cive way to someone else by tenderng his resignation .as one of the joint secretaries of the unemployed committee. He considered' the Premier to be the "crossest boor" that had ever occupied.such a position, and he (Mr Heagney) would refuse ever to speak civilly to him again. (Applause).