OPENING OF THE COMMONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3657, 19 October 1912, Page 3

OPENING OF THE COMMONS.

MOMENTOUS SESSION AHEAD

SCENES IN THE HOUSE

[INDEPENDENT PRESS CABLE] LONDON, Oct, 7. Se’dom lias the reassembling of Parliament been regarded with a greater interest than that manifested by the public to-day in the re-open-ing of the House of Commons. The pressure of business to he transacted during the present session is declared to be unprecedented. Mr Asquith was visited in Downing street by all his colleagues, and at noon a Cabinet meeting was held. A special force of police was placed on duty, as it was feared that the .suffragettes might make an attack on Ministers.

Members invaded the House of Commons as early as 8 o’clock this morning for the purpose of marking their scats. Later in the day, when the Speaker, the Right Hon. James Lowther, took the chair, none of the party leaders were present. Within a few minutes, however, Mr Bonar Law. the Opposition leader, entered the Chamber, and was wildly cheered by the Unionists.

The Prime Minister found a similar reception awaiting Inin from the Liberal side of the House.

Members soon settl'd down to business. Mr. Asquith looked reposeful hut determined, Mr Bonar Law and Sir Edward Carson pugnacious, Mr. Lloyd George combative, and Mr Winston Churchill perky. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey,’ wore u serious expression, and llis "colleague, the Secretary for War-, Colonel Seo’y, came in looking rather anxious. Mr J. Ramsay Macdonald was greeted with cheers from the Labor Party as ho entered, hut the appearance of .the Irish leader, Mr John Redmond,, was practically unnoticed. Tho Unionists are obviously anxious to get to grins with tho Ministerialists The latter are confident, but 'Wary.