PEACE SONGS IN PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13847, 28 August 1919, Page 6

PEACE SONGS IN PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS EXUBERANT

(London Daily Express.) All rules, the garnered procedure of centuries in the Mother of Parliaments, fled in one glowing instance on peace afternoon in the House of Commons. Members, in. long eltJSfe Isvv's, Bri their feetj burst tvltn brie accord into the singiiig of the National Anthem in token of joy at the ending of the war, of praise to God, and honor to the King.

It was with the National Anthem that the House of Commons five years ago signalled our grim united entrance into war; it was with the National Anthem, that the House of Commons to-day.cele-bratcd the victorious end.

Five years ago it was more a prayer: ) to day it was more a paeari, In both illstances it struck orte exalted note — unity. All parties joined in; the rhythm of the hymn rang through the House—a House hedged about with iron restrictions, all swept aside to-day. This singing of the National Anthem without a call.from any authority, with nothing about it Oil the order paper or elsewhere, save in the hearts of men, w ; as the_ joyous crescendo of a great thanksgiving. It had begun about half an hour before. The Leader of the House, Mr Bonar Law, back from Paris, yet never seeming to have left the House wlu'ch he leads with such eerie ease of touch, walked in as usual in the middle of questions to reply to those set down on the paper for him to answer. His tall thin figure Had scarcely emerged from the shadows behind the Speaker's chair, the House had hardly caught a moment's slimpse of his seamed and trouble-beaten yet joy-lighted face, when it sent tip a cheer. No one started it. No one signalled it. The roll of at-claim surged up from both sides of the crowded Chamber, and members a moment before lounging half-recumbent or bent oven question papers, shot up to their feet as one man, long rows of them, the majority of the House. There I were no spoken words, only the broaß; hearty volume of sound with a lilt of joy in it. Here was a man who had borne the burden of the State through these war years, burdens that mignt well have broken any man down, and always succeeded by more and more burdens, and then by new ones after the armistice. The House recognised it all and gave him salvo on salvo. Mr Bonar Law. his lips set, his chin hard with self-repression, but his eyes bright, walked along the row of Ministers, sank into his seat, and sat with heud slightly bowed. Then the House, with its amazing alertness of detachment, went on with the scores of questions on the order paper. At the end question time ; there was a stir, a gazing at the entrance to the nest of Ministers' rooms behind the chair, and a slight pause in everything. A short, bright-eyed man stepped out of the shadows. Crash broke the storm of cheering. He was a rather pale man, with a quick, brisk gait, a wonderful, almost dancing, light in his eyes that looked blue-black 111 the Chamber. He was a fragile-looEing man with a readiness at most times to smile wiiisomely, almost like a girl, but at, this moment stem-set of face, his features crowned by plenteous and slightly imruJy hair, silver to greypowdered on black. It was the Prime .Minister, worn, bent; grimly glad, back from the greatest peace-making of all time.

Almost every member, irrespective of party, was on his feet now. The Prime Minister paced rapidly along the row of Ministers, gave a quick glance in his swift Celtic manner at Mr Bonar Law and dropped into his seat opposite the Mace. He sat a rigid, upright figure while the acclaim, roar on roar renewed, went up from tho standing throng. Mr Kenworthy, the Wee Free "victor of Central Hull," who was not disguished himself in the House before,, did so now. Several Wee Frees wobbled up and down and finally stood, but Mr Kenworthy remained in his seat. He did not sit in it, but shifted his pallid form about on the green bench until he achieved what he evidently thought to be the most ostentatiously sprawling position possible. Next to Mr Kenworthy sat Mr Will Thome, a smile on his big, burly face, and the two and one or two backbench Labor men remained seated during the renewed and again renewed volumes of cheering for the Prime Minister. Sir Donald Maclean, Wee Free leader, anti-Lloyd George Liberal i figurehead, stood and joined in the j cheer. Mr Churchill, • standing near Mr Lloyd George, seized an order paper and waved it above his head. Hats and order papers and handkerchiefs waved in the air.

The instant the cheering died down another sound arose, "God Save the King." No one started it. Everybody started it. Quite out of order. Against the rules. It was a moment of blessed parliamentary anarchy. Long rows of men with smiling faces and joyous expression and round mouths, singing the National Anthem in broad, massive volume. 3lr Lloyd George, hearing the National Anthem, sprang to his feet andi sang lustily. Mr Kenworthy and most of the few sitting near rose and sang. Mr Neil Mac Lean, the lusty-headed, sharp-featured Socialist Whip remainedseated. Nobody minded that. The House of Commons saw the truth and saw it whole. It was the day for singing and acclamation. It was, in the House of Commons, "Der Tag." The massive chorus ended. With hands upraised members gave three cheers. Mr Lloyd George briefly acknowledged the congratulations offered by Sir Donald McLean. He said: —"It

has indeed been a very anxious time because of the gigantic character of the interests concerned 'and the fear lest any failing on my part should prejudice the country we all love. It will, I think, meet- the convenience of the House better if I make my statement on Thursday with regard to the treatyof peace signed on Saturday, which brought to an end the most sanguinary war that has ever been in tins world. The document which was then' signed is the most comprehensive and far-reaching treaty which has ever been concluded, whether you regard the number and the might of the nations who wore parties to it. whether you regard the infinite variety of the interests, concerned or the vastness of the territories affected, or whether you regard the great and promising new experiments which are embodied in it, and which may alter the whole character of the world and give a new turn to the destinv of mankind. It will be better

T should wait until I get an authentic copy of that great document. I hope to be able to lay it on the table of the 1 House by Thursday, and, if possible, I shall introduce the Bill which will enable the Government to give effect to opportunity of saying something about its provision. I shall hope to take the treaty itself and the methods of its execution." Mr Lloyd George added in reply to a question that he certainly contemplated discussion. He thought it 'desirable that views should be freely expressed on the general character of the treaty. Mr Seddon, on a point of order, called attention to the fact'that Mr Neil McLean remained seated during the singing of the National Anthem, but the' Speaker proceeded to the business before the House.