EXTRAORDINARY SCENE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1914, Page 8

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE

JN FEDERAL HOUSE. MELBOURNE, May 13. An extraordinary scene occurred i<> the House* of Representatives just before 11 o'clock to-night. The Govern meiit Whip, Mr Greene, entered the Chamber, carrying a huge blanket and a pillow. He threw it on one of the Ministerial benches and walked out. In a few minutes he returned with two pillows, which he threw on different benches on the Ministerial side, ami again walked out. Sir Robert Bast tojk one of the blankets and one of the pillows, wrapped himself in the blanket, and stretching himself on the bench, pretended to sleep. Mr Atkinson (Tasmania) got auothei pillow and blanket and followed Sii uobert Best's oxanipk. MeanwhiL Mr Greene was missing i;* and out wtti iiili'j pillows and blankets.

Mr Webster met. him in the ganfc way, and, seizing hold of a pillow tried to wrench it from him. A struggle followed, and Mr Green, retained tiie pillow. When he hat thrown it on a seat Mr Webster crep. up, and captured it, carried it oi liiinui-'lianlly Lo the front Upuositioi UJIICII.

£>oou afterwards he annexed a blan ket. Mr Cook, who witnessed th incident, went after the blanket, am ueunh, seized it and marched away bt hind the Speaker a chair to the 'l reus: Kry bench. '.vlr Cook directed attention to Ui action of Mr Webster, saying that h was forcibly seizing the property u other members. There was- at once a. uproar. Mr Bennett's blanket, was nex taken. Afterwards Mr Bennett got u] and complained to the Speaker. Then was disorder, mingled with laughter. the Speaker ruted that no liiembe. was entitled to remove the property o another member. Mr Kinlnyson : J. object to Mr Ben netL imputing to another member I hi?' he has removed property. (Oh, "h '. Mr Cook: J make the imputation an. direct the Speaker's attention to it. I member of the UpposiUon wrenched the property of a Mrtisteria; isl, and hid it on the Opposition siu side of the House. (Much laughter.) The Speaker ; It ir, distinctly not i. order for any member to interfere wit.

another member's property. 'lntel ruption.) At any disorder arises i will be fo? the Prime Minister to laki action.

Mr Catts (New South Wales) aske> whose property it was.

The Speaker: 1. am not required t decide points of that kind. «o mem ber must interfere with (lie properly u another member. (Cheers.) Mr B-iley : Ha? cave been taken tha this •'property'' is of a sanitary charac ter, and not liable to disseminate di.t.tse. (Cheers and laughter.) The Speaker: That is not a questioi which should be asked. (Cheers.) Later. All- Eenfcou (Victoria) crossei over lo the Ministerial benches, at); laid his hand upon one of the pillows. Mr Hans Irvine (Victoria) grasped it. Mr Cook rose, to his feet. "1 wis] to draw your attention, Mr Speaker, U the fact "that a member from the oihei side of the House (Mr I'enton) is ovei here for the purpose of creating a disturbance." Mr .McDonald (Queensland): thai i a lying statement. The Speaker: If what the I'nmt Minister says is correct, then he should take certain action. Mr Greene (New South W r ales) called attention to Mr McDonald's interjection.

Mr McDonald : I withdraw. Quiet was again restored, and Mr Fenton went back to the Labour benches.