Angry Scenes In Commons Over Meal Supplies: Minister Provokes Uproar

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22916, 7 April 1949, Page 5

Angry Scenes In Commons Over Meal Supplies: Minister Provokes Uproar

(N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright.) LONDON, April 5. The British Parliament had one of its most angry scenes for many years tonight as members crowded out of the Chamber to vote on Britain’s meat position.

There were heated altercations and some jostling between Government and Opposition supporters.

The uproar started when the Minister of Food, Mr J. Strachey, said it had emerged in the Opposition speeches that their political prejudices were so much stronger than their patriotism.

The Conservative, Mr. Martin Lindsay, immediately rose and asked if it was in order for an “ex-member of the Fascist Party to cast aspersions on our patriotism.” There were angry shouts from both sides of the House at this and the Labour member, Mr. John Paton, called it “a lying statement.” This was followed by more angry outbursts which caused a delay of about 10 minutes, with members protesting to the Speaker, Colonel CliftonBrown, against what they considered offensive remarks.

Government and Opposition members then droke into a violent argument as they streamed through the Chamber to cast their vote.

Colleagues restrained some who showed the greatest aggressiveness and order was gradually restored without any blows being struck. The announcement of the voting—the defeat of the formal Opposition motion by 247 votes to 185—was greeted with loud cries of “resign” from Opposition member.s The speech that provoked Mr. Strachey's remark about political prejudice was one by the Conservative, Sir David Robertson, suggesting that the British Government had driven too hard a bargain with Argentina in the Andes agreement.