UPROAR IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 1

UPROAR IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

"PARNELLISM AND CRIME." EVOKES GREAT NATIONALIST DEMONSTRATION. HELPLESS CHAIRMAN APPLIES CLOS'U RE. BjvTelegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received April 22, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 22. In the House of Commons yesterday Mr T. IV O’Connor moved that tho vote of £9OO, pension to Sir Robert Anderson, be reduced, owing to the* recent disclosures concerning his connection with the articles on “Parn.'li--ism and Grime,”' (published by “The Times” in 1887. The motion was negatived by 164 votes to 94, after the closure had been applied as the only way to end tho scene of disorder that arose. In moving the motion Mr .0* Connor uttered a fiery denunciation of Scotland Yard and the Conservative Government for assisting “The Times ” to make a case against the Famellitea.

Mr Winston Churchill, Home Secretary, declared that Sir Robert Anderson’S articles did not contain secret service revelations; therefore he did not think the case justified in depriving Sir Robert of his pension.

Mr Blalfour (who Waa Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1887 to 1891) justified the Government’s action in 1887 and 1883 in connection with the Parnell case. Referring to Sir Robert Anderson, the leader of the Opposition said it was important that the lips of civil servants should be sealed after their retirement.

The Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, denounced “The Times” for sending its representatives, accompanied by an ex-detective, into the cells of men, serving life sentences with the object of inducing thorn to give evidence.Doubtless, he said, Sir Robert Anderson had supplied Major Le Caron with the documents which came into his possession, as a servant of the State: Though the “ Blackwood ” article (in’ which Sir Robert Anderson recently, made the disclosures leading to the, present discussion) was a grave indiscretion, the case was not one for , withdrawal of the pension. Some hours’ desultory debate followed.

Mr J. H. M. Campbell, Unionist member for Dublin University and ex-Attorney-General for Ireland, incidentally let fall the words: ’‘Apart from the question of the privity of Parnell to two terrible murders in Phoenix Park ” (Sir Frederick Cavendish and Mr Burke), and the Nationalists became frenzied, shouting “ Shame 1” “ Withdraw 1” Air J. E. Redmond, Nationalist loader, declared that the Commissioners had expressly acquitted Mr Parnell of complicity in the crime. Air Campbell replied that ho was willing to accept that if the Nationalists agreed to the other findings of tiie Commission.

Despite tho repeated interventions of Mr Alfred Emmott, Chairman of Committees, who occupied tho chair, the Nationalists refused to allow Mr Campbell to continue. ' Mocking laughter greeted Mr Emmett’s plea that his duty was to carry out tho rules of order. Mr William Redmond, Nationalist member for Clare: “You are here to carry out rules, of decency!”This was followed by shouts of “Castle Back.” “ Pigott.” “Send for the Speaker.” These were repeats ed again and again, but Mr Campbell, unperturbed, stood at the table waiting for the uproar to subside. Mr Haldane and other members appealed to the Nationalists, hut the unroar only became more deafening, and finally the chairman accepted Mr Churchill’s suggestion to closure the debate, and this was carried by 232 votes to 111, amid the waving of hats and hands and frantic cheers for Parnell.