Scene in the Commons

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 31, 1 August 1923, Page 10

Scene in the Commons

ABOUT A FLOODED;MIKE.

A lively scene occurred during question time-in tlie House of Commons yesterday (states a recent issue of the "Daily>Herald">. ■: -■■-

Mr. G. D. Kardie, the Labour member for. Springburn, had asked the 'Secretary for Mines .whether any, •steps had been taken to find why a bore was not kept going in front of the men who lost their lives tluough mine flooding'in Stafford.

This inquiry- -he followed with a supplementary question,.to which the Minister (Mr. Lane-Fox) was unable to reply* ; -.i --9 ~ Mr.Hardie complained bitterly at this lack of oflieial information, and an: attempt was thereupon-made by the Government supporters to shout him down. For some moments the member for Springburn endeavoured to make himself , hard above the, uproar, meanwhile "pointing [threateningly at the opposite benches. Krassih,- - from the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery, looked on with apparent great interest while this stor■my scene* was proceeding. Mr. Hardie, continuing his protest, exclaimed: "The men in charge wer© absolutely ignorant of the science ol mining. Here are men being drowned— —" , The remainder of the sentence was lost in loud Labour .cheera and Tory counter cheers.

(During this disturbance , a Tory member shouted: '-Is Labour fit to govern?" to- which Mr. Jack Jones instantly retorted: "Are you fit- to do anything but eat dinners?" * The Speaker terminated the scene by observing that the member's of the Government were not technical experts. Mr. Jack Jones: Hear, hear! or any, other kind of experts. (JvOhd laughter.)