MR. DILLON'S INSULT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11952, 29 April 1902, Page 6

MR. DILLON'S INSULT.

THE SCENE IX THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. Av incident declared to be without parallel— at least, in modern timesoccurred in the House of Commons on March 20. Mr. Dillon interrupted Mr. Chamberlain with a declaration that Boers righting on the side of the British against their countryineu were traitors," and Mr. Dillon excitedly described that the hon. member was " a good judge of traitors,' and Mr. Dillon excitedly described the Colonial Secretary as a " d liar." For this gross offence against the rules of the House Mr. Dillon was suspended, on the motion of Mr. Balfour.

The outburst which led to Mr. Dillon's suspension came quite simply and unexpectedly. Mr. Chamberlain, in replying to a speech by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, was reviewing the situation. '* We have," he pointed out, "three or four thousand of the burghers fighting with us against the Burghers in the held, and itis these who have captured some of the most important commandants that have come into' our hands. One general —General Vilonel— writing, I think, to General De Wet, expressed the opinion that those still in the Meld were the worst enemies of the country." ,

" That man. is a traitor to his country," shouted out Mr. Dillon.

Such an opportunity is never lost by Mr. Chamberlain. Turning his monocle on Mr. Dillon, he said, icily and deliberately, "The hon. gentleman is a good judge of traitors.' The phrase, and the manner of its utterance, brought an instant uproan Above the din of Ministerial cheers, the Nationalists could be heard shouting vain things at the Colonial Secretory, and .Mr. Dillon rose, with an accentuated pallor on his cheeks. . "I want to know, Mr. Speaker," he said at last, "first of all, whether that is a parliamentary expression '.'" The Speaker gave a ruling which showed a slight misunderstanding of the interruption. • "The hon. gentleman," he said, "interrupted the right hon. gentleman by saying that the soldiers serving under the British Crown are traitors. I deprecate these interruptions, as I deprecate the retorts. If the hon. member will not interrupt he will not be subjected to such retorts."

This, and the cheers on the Government benches, provoked the Nationalists to another babel of meaningless noise. "Then," said Mr. Dillon, speaking quite deliberately, " [ desire to say, Mr. Speaker, " the right hon. gentleman is a d liar." Mr. John Redmond in vain tried to quell the shouts of his followers at this remarkable outburst. The Speaker rose and demanded a withdrawal of the expression. " I never withdraw,"' was Mr. Dillon's response. The inevitable followed. " I must name the hon. member.' said the Speaker, still standing, " for disregarding the ruling of the Chair."

Mr. Balfour moved Mr. Dillon's suspension, and on this being put from the Chair there were cries from the Nationalists of "Coward, coward!" and "You'll have to suspend all of us.

When the House cleared for the division some of the Irish lingered on the benches, perhaps contemplating a repetition of the scene last session when 12 of them were carried out by policemen. But Mr. Redmond was peremptory, and they went into the lobbies. The result of the division was: For the suspension 248 Against 48 Majority 200 The Speaker then asked Mr. Dillon to withdraw, and he walked down the floor of the House, followed by the cheers of his compatriots.