POLITICS AND FISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18895, 18 December 1924, Page 13

POLITICS AND FISTS.

MINISTER STRIKES MEMBER.

ELDERLY MAN'S EYE BLACKENED

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN INCIDENT.

[ir.Oil OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] SIDNEY, Dec. 11.

Australians are used to unseemly scenes in Parliament, but it is not often that a Minister so far forgets himself as to resort to fisticuffs.

Just after the dinner adjournment of the South Australian Legislative Assembly yesterday, Mr. Moseley, the oldest member of the House, was, after an exchange of words with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. T. Butterfield, struck a severe blow on tho face by tho Minister. The only witness to the episode was the Speaker, Mr. J. Mclnnes.

The matter was referred to in tho House upon the resumption of business, and after some discussion, in tho course of which Mr. Butterfield apologised, the Speaker said that he would adjourn consideration until a date to bo fixed, when ho would make a statement to tho House, and give members the opportunity to consider it.

It is stated that tho incident arose in relation to a motion by the Commissioner of Crown Lands to appropriate as Crown lands a travelling stock reserve. Mr. Moseley had, in speaking on tho motion, referred to the hard battle that a woman, whose husband had suffered from paralysis for several years, had had in fencing tho property and rearing her children unaided, as well as taking caro of tho invalid. He said that she had with her own hands erected a stone house, she had paid her rent, but had eventually got behind to tho extent of £39, whereupon she was told by the Government that sho would have to leave the place. Warm Words Exchanged. Tho assault by the Minister was made in the members' toilet vestibule. Mr. Moseley, it is said, was washing his hands, and Mr. Butterfield approached him and stated that he considered lie was trying to make political capital out of the matter. Mr. Moseley denied that that was so, and said ho was simply stating the facts of the case. The Minister is then alleged to havo remarked, "You are a, liar." Air. Moseley replied, "If I am, I think you are a bigger one." Thereupon tho blow was struck, and Mr. Moseley's left eye was blackened. The Speaker, who was tho only other member in tho vestibule, then interposed. In the House, subsequently, the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Henry Barwell, directed the attention of tho Speaker to the incident as being a breach of privilege, and quoted authorities concerning the penalties attaching to such conduct. The Premier, Mr. J. Gunn, said it was difficult to find words to express his regret at what had happened. He had received quite a different version as to what had led up to the assault. He understood that there were heated exchanges, and that an insult was offered to the Minister, which was resented, and the blow was struck. He did not know whether the matter could not be got over by an expression of regret at that juncture, as ho did not think any member wanted to proceed ! further with it. Minister Expresses Regret. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, in addressing the House, said that Mr. Moseley had marie very grave reflections on him. Unfortunately he delivered the blow in tho heat of tho moment, and ho regretted it, and offered an apology. Mr. Moseley said that- he was sorry that the thing had happened. He did not see the blow struck. Naturally, being a man with a little bit of fire, ho would have returned the blow if ho had had a chance, but the Speaker kept him back. As he was an old man, it had taken a lot out of him. It was a cowardly blow, he added.

The Speaker indicated that, lie would take the matter entirely into his own hands, and that when he had arived at a decision, he would indicate it to the House.

Mr. Moseley was conveyed to a doctor, and subsequently was taken to his home.

A cablegram published on December 12 stated that the Speaker subsequently expressed his severe disapproval of the disorderly conduct of the Minister. He censured the latter's reprehensible action, and ordered that it be recorded. He accepted as an end to the incident the Minister's expression of regret and the apology tendered to Mr. Moseley and to the Assembly.