SCENE IN COMMONS.
MEMBER'S OUTBURST.
SUSPENDED BY HOUSE.
SCHOOL LEAVING AGE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL.
r AN OFFENSIVE REMARK.
By TeWraph—Press AssoeinliAi—Copyright
itJeeeived November 12. 8.-is p.m.) LONDON. Nov. n
A scene occurred in the House of Commons in the course of the debate on the School Age Bill, which resulted in the suspension of Mr. J. McGovern, labour member for Sliettleston, Glasgow.
The President of the Board of Education, Sir Charles Trovelyan, moved a financial motion expressing the opinion that under t he income limits 75 per cent, of the parents whose children were kept at school for an extra year would apply for maintenance grants, which would cost £3.750,000 for the first year, rising to £5.500.000. The Exchequer would bear (70 pet cent, of that amount. Mr. W. .1. Womersley, Conservative member/ for Grimsby, argued that parents did not desire to leave their children at school for an extra year. Mr. McGovern: That is a lie.
The Chairman of Committers!, Mr. T!. (Young, demanded (lie withdrawal of the Remark. Mr. McGovern: I will not withdraw it. JHe is slandering tho working classes. The chairman pleaded with the. member, but Mr. McGovern remained seated and made no offer to withdraw.
The Speaker was summoned and tho chairman named Mr. McGovern for discarding his ruling. Sir Charles Trevelyan, who temporarily jwas leading the House, moved the suspension of Mr. McGovern. Tho back bench supporters of the member named forced a division and his suspension was tarried by 305 votes to 40.
When Mr. McGovern was leaving the House he stopped three times and burled back interjections. '"1 wish you would show more enthusiasm for the. unemployed and feed the starving multitudes," he cried.
As: a parting shot the member sliouted: ."You are a dirty set of dogs. You are kaby-starvers."
When the discussion was resumed Sir 'John Simon (Liberal) said lie approved the principle of extending the schoolgoing years, but he did not favour the method of giving maintenance grants without a full inquiry into the parents' financial position. After all, the income taxpayers had to submit to even closer inquiries, so why not the beneficiaries ?
The motion was carried bv 2/1 votes to 242. The Liberals did not vote.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20720, 13 November 1930, Page 11
Word Count
370SCENE IN COMMONS. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20720, 13 November 1930, Page 11
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