DISORDERLY SCENES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19807, 30 November 1927, Page 8

DISORDERLY SCENES.

EXCITED liEGISLATOES. f" SYDNEY'S RULERS, STORMY PASSAGE OF BILL. "TELLING AN INFAMOUS LIE.* Labour members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly wa re respons. ible for many disorderly scenes daring last week's debate on the Sydney Co r „ poration (Commissioners) Bill. Mr. T. J. Shannon (Surry Hills), a city alderman, bad defended the City Council at considerable length, and when it was seen that bis speech was drawing to a close cries of " Don't pat the gag over" were raised from the Opposition benches. So load was the ciamour that Mr. Shannon's voice was at times qmt 8 drowned. Onea when Mr. Bavin addressed a remark to Mr. Shannon £h# Opposition bawled so loudly that for % tirn« all trace of coherence vanished from the proceedings. The Speaker's calls of " Order" were ignored, and cries of " Chair " from the Government benches added to the general uproar. After Mr. Shannon had been addressing the Assembly for two hoars and 10 minutes, and the disorder continued to grow in volume, the Premier, Mr. Bavin, suggested that the Minister for Lands, Mr. Ball, should " move the motion." Anticipating the "guillotine" the Opposi. tion roared further dissent and burst into a great chorus of cat-calls and oppro. brium. Mr. Ball was simply overwhelmed. Thrice he tried to make himself heard, but failed. Then Mr. Levy grasped tho purport of bis motion—" That the question be now put "—and put it was, with the chamber at fever heat of excitement and passion. While the division was being taken members of the Opposition expressed their private opinions of other members with insulting frankness. An argument-of which the genesis was unknown—between Mr. Goldstein and Mr. Shannon rapidly developed in candour and violence. Suddenly Mr. Goldstein was heard to inform Mr. Shannon that he (Mr. Shannon) was a " bigger liar than the man who told him " (something about Mr. Goldstein, apparently). "Come to the Town Hall to-morrow and I will show you,'? Mr. Shannon yelled across the chamber, incidentally ofiering to bet Mr. Goldstein £SO that "something" could be found there Mr. Goldstein: You know jolly well you are telling an infamous lie. Member Waves Arms at Mr. Speaker, Mr. Shannon repeated his invitation Ui Mr. Goldstein, and Mr. Goldstein replied hotly that he would scorn to be seen in Mr. Shannon's company—and then a wave of united uproar swept over the engaging conversation, and left Mr. Goldstein and Mr Shannon glaring wildly one at the other. When the Speaker announced that the motion had been carried. Mr. M. Burke jumped to his feet, and, to the accompaniment of shouts from both sides of the House, excitedly waved his arms at the Speaker, and began to protest abont something which for a time was lost in tho surrounding confusion. Eventually he shouted that he claimed to be heard "in refutation of the lying statements of the Premier and Mr. Goldstein." This caused more uproar, amid which the Speaker continually called Mr. Burke to order, and Sir Burke flatly refused to cease shouting Mr. Ball: Put him ont! Mr Burke: I claim the right — The Speaker: The House is in division. "You had declared the division," roared Mr. Burke. "I claim the right to speak. I want to reply to the statements made by Mi-. Goldstein. (Labour applause.) They were deliberate perversions of the truth." The Speaker: Resume your seat. Mr. Burke apparently had no intention of doing so, but, advised by Mr. Davies, he angrily sat down after being in possession of the floor for nearly five minutes. A division was then called on tho motion that the bill be read a second time, and though the shouting and the tumult showed no signs of dying, the second reading was duly carried. Mr. Lang Seeks to Amend Bill. When the bill was in committee the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. moved to amend a section to read: "Jvo sale of real estate shall be made by the 'commissioners," thereby deleting the words "save with the previous approval of the Gcvernor." That made it Definite and anal, he said, and allowed no chance of there being any "crook business." The Premier said it would be impossible to accept the amendment. The clause was precisely -the same as it existed in regard to the City Council at present. Sales would be subject to review by Parliament and the Government, would have to accept responsibility for any sale made by the commissioners. Mr. Lang: We won't trust vou. Mr. Bavin: I am quite aware of that J but I am only concerned whether the people trust me. To accept the amendment would bo to tie the hands of the commissioners in a way that would probably lead to intolerable trouble, and might render necessary an amendment of the bill. Mr, Lang altered his amendment to read, "No sale of real estate shall be made by the commissioners save with the previous approval of Parliament." Thi« was defeated by 41 votes to 38. "Sit Down o? B<3 Pui Oat." After further discussion Mr. Bavin reminded Mr. Lang that be had granted aa hour's extension of the debate, and would give not a minuto more. So he had better stop, Mr. Lang: I don't like the threats o| the Premioi". - ■ ' . _ Mr. Fitzpatrick: Sit down, or you will be put out. . Mr. Lang (approaching Mr. Fitzpatx | rick): Well, you can't put. me out. Mr. Fitzpatrick: I will have a try. (Up* roar.) The Chairman of Committees bad aif* ficalty in restoring order, and Jifr. Lang returned to hia seat. Tho bill, which passed through Houses after fierce opposition, provide* for the suspension for two years (if tufl government of Sydney by a city conn* eil, and for the control of th« city b y three commissioners. The Act t)ok effect as from yesterday.