The Peace Preservation Bill.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 6047, 12 September 1894, Page 3

The Peace Preservation Bill.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) WHOLESALE SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS. % (per united press association.) Received September I—. at 0.10 p.m. Brisbane, September 12. A scene unparalleled in the history of the colony was witnessed at an early hour this morning in the Assembly. During the debate on the Peace Preservation Bill, Mr Glassey appealed to the Government to appoint a Conciliation Committee to go west and endeavor to settle the strike. Mr Tozer replied that the Government were prepared to accept several amendments from the Opposition if the Committee allowed the first six clauses to go through. Probably matters would be so altered by that time that the remaining portions of the Bill would not be necessary. Mr Glassey said that they would not accept the lines of the present Bill, and the stonewall continued. At 1 o'clock, Mr Stevens, ActingChairman, had occasion to call the Labor members to order, and uproar ensued. The Chairman ordered Messrs Reid and Brown to resume their seats, but they declined, and the Speaker was sent for. Mr Browne was named and suspended for seven days, but declining to leave the Chamber he was forcibly ejected by the officers amid cries of Coercion, and cheers from the Labor party. I Similar proceedings were taken against I Messrs Reid, M'Donald, and Turley, amid intense excitement. Mr Glassey and others attempted to raise points of order, but the Chairman refused to allow any debate. Mr Power said he hoped the House would never see Mr Stevens Chairman again, a remark which caused the wildest uproar. Mr Dunsford called out : " Stevens comes to the House in a half sleepy, drunken state," for which he, too, was reported and suspended, for a week. Mr Glassey then insisted on being heard. He defied the chair, and shared the fate of his companions. Mr Dawson was also suspended, and the House finally adjourned at 2.30 a.m.