THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, 21 December 1916, Page 3

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

GREAT WAITING CROWDS. HOUSE PACKED WITH PEOPLE. THE LEADER LOUDLY CHEERED. ."LITTLE LAWYER'S TRIUMPH."

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) ("Reuters" Telegram.) (Rec. December 20, 5.50 p.m.) LONDON, December 19. '• . Outside the House of Commons, crowds in Parliament Street and Palace Yard watched the. arrival of members, -iVho arrived before noon to appropriate seats. The House was crowded in tvtry corner and the- galleries and gph^ways were overflowing. The Press Gallkry was packed. Rt. Hon. W. F, . Mas|ay and Sir Joseph Ward were in the distinguished Strangers' Gallery; also he- representatives of Fiance, Italy ,l Belgium, and the neutrals, including Mr. Page (American Ambassador in: London) . The Strangers' Gallery cori-ahicd more people in khaki than in Civilian dress. Women waited for hours in the corridors behind the Ladies' G/illery. ' i - The Horse soon plunged into business dealin; with questions. One answer deelaiid that the military pun-i ihhment of 'crucifixion cannot "be abandoned. To] another question, a promise was given that official action would be taLen to stop the slaughter of pigs. Hon. D. Lloyd George entered, looking pale from ihis illness, which he has not yet shaken off. He was greeted with loud cheers from all sides of the House. Cheers also greeted Mr. Asquith and Mr. • Bonar Law. For the first time in his career Mr. Lloyd George was confronted by Mr. Asquith, with whom some fragments of the late Cabinet, remained. It was a remarkable scene. It was the little Welsh Lawyer's day of triumph. He took the floor amid renewed cheering. His early sentences about the peace offer and the declaration that swash- ' buckling through the streets of Eun p"-. must be stopped, and Germany's r-** - trust in an unbroken army, rather than her broken faith, at one brought him into close sympathy with, his hearers, aad so the speech continued.