REPORTER ACCUSED OF ASSAULT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22210, 21 December 1946, Page 3

REPORTER ACCUSED OF ASSAULT

COMMUNIST M.P.

INCIDENTJN HOUSE BOTH APOLOGISE HOUSE INQUIRY PENDING (9 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. Mr. F. G. Bowles. Labour, speaking in the House of Commons to-night, said it had come to his notice that the Commons member, Mr. P. Piratin Communist, had twice been physically assaulted and battered within the precincts of the House. Mr. Speaker. Colonel Clifton Brown. said he would instruct tlie Sergeant-al-Arms to ascertain the facts. "I will make a statement tomorrow." Mr. Driderg said. “I regret to say I have some knowledge of these events. The person guilty of this repeated assault was a press correspondent accredited to the service of this House ” The Sneaker: “The matter is surely sub judice.” The Commons then dropped the subject. In Precincts of House The Sergeant-at-Arms, reporting later to the House of Commons, said the incident undoubtedly occurred in the precincts of the House, but the evidence appeared conflicting and further investigation was required to determine the actual facts. The Speaker then invited Mr. Piratin to make a statement before it was decided whether or not there was a prima facie case. Mr. Piratin said there were actually two assaults. “On the first occasion, in a cafeteria, this man attacked me after using offensive remarks. I struck him. I express deep regret, but I did what any other member would have done in the circumstances. He not only insulted me, but insulted my race. “Absolutely Unprovoked” "On the second occasion 90 minutes later, when the whole matter as far as I was concerned was forgotten except that I was going to make a formal report to the Sergeant-at-Arms, I was upstairs to meet a reporter and, as I left the reporter’s room, this man deliberately attacked me while I was not in a position to defend myself, and struck blows which the House can see for itself. Although I express deep regret to the House that my provocation incited me to return the blow on the first occasion. I must ask the House to take into account the second occasion, which was absolutely unprovoked and further was premeditated in view of the fact that the man himself said after the first occasion: ‘Wait until I get you alone.’ ” Mr. Piratin added that he was prepared to leave the matter in the hands of the House. “No Disrespect Intended’’ The Speaker then said he had received a letter which, perhaps, in fairness to the other side, he should read. The letter said: “I deeply regret my

part in what occurred and ask you to believe that no disrespect was ever intended to you or the dignity of the House of Commons, either individually or collectively. I hope you will be generous enough to extend to me your leniency and forgiveness. “During the eight years I have been a member of the press gallery, I h$ v e never hitherto been involved in any untoward incident, and trust you will believe me when I say 1 will never allow this to occur again.” Mr. Herbert Morrison said that Mr. Piratin’s account of the affair did leave the issue just a wee bit uncertain as to who played this part and -who the other, but the facts were pretty clear, and he thought this was an occask a when the House might have a sense of proportion. “Let Matter Go at That” Mr. Morrison said that as both Mr. Piratin and the journalist had expressed regret, he thought they might, let the matter go at that. They might make terribly heavy weather of it by referring it to the committee of privileges. Mr. Churchill said that many woull feel there was great wisdom in Mi. Morrison's idea that the matter shoui t be passed off, but there were serious issues. He was not in favour of members of Parliament being knocked about by strangers when in the precincts of the House. It mattered nothing whether they were Communists or Tories. The House must guard its rights. He proposed that the matter should go before the committee of privileges. The Speaker then said that a prima facie case had been made out. Mr. Morrison said he was only trying to get the matter settled amicably without bad blood, but in view of the Speaker's ruling he moved t\iat_ the. matter be referred to the committee, and the House agreed to the motion. • To-day's Parliamentary papers name. Mr. T. D. Lucy, of the Press Associ- 1 ation as the reporter concerned with) Mr. Piratin in the incident reported to the House of Commons.