OUTBURST IN HOUSE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3445, 19 March 1932, Page 5

OUTBURST IN HOUSE

EARLY MORNING SENSATION. LABOUR MEMBERS SUSPENDED. There was a sensational scene in the House of Representatives about 5 o'clock on Friday morning in the course of the all-night sitting. Urgency having been accorded the passage of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment ©ill, the "closure" was applied on a number of occasions during the committee stage, and when Mr. Coates moved to apply this weapon after some time had been spent in discussing the clause relating to the conditions under which disputes might be referred to the Arbitration Court, Mr. P. Fraser complained that no time had been allowed for a discussion of the effect of the clause on women workers. He asked whether the application of the "closure" would debar a debate on this aspect.

Mr. Smith, Chairman of Committees, said the "closure" would mean that the whole clause would go to a division.

Mr. Fraser: "Then this is the most contemptible mean thing I ever heard of."

Mr. Lee (addressing the Government) : "You are a class of Parliamentary curs." Mr. Smith demanded the withdrawal of the remarks, but the Labour members, Messrs. Fraser and Lee, declined. Mr. Speaker was summoned and requested the withdrawal of the remarks, but Messrs. Fraser and Lee persisted in their refusal. They were ultimately suspended for the remainder of the sitting, a motion to this effect being adopted by 30 votes to 21, only Labour members dissenting.