SCENE IN THE COMMONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 16

SCENE IN THE COMMONS

CLYDESIDERS IN TROUBLE

A MEMBER EJECTED

ROUGH WORK FOR ATTENDANTS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 10.

Last Thursday afternoon an extra'ordinap- scene marred the sitting of the House of Commons, when a Glasgow member defied the Speaker and was forcibly ejected. - Mr M'Govern (Glasgow, Shettleston, Labour) asked a question about four lay preachers who had persisted in a demonstration on Glasgow Green contrary to by-laws and were imprisoned. Mr Adamson, Secretary for Scotland, said that he was in communication with the local authority with a view to taining if there was any difficulty in the way of these persons getting permits to preach the Gospel on Glasgow Green at any time they so desired. Mr M'Govern asked whether these men could not be released while inquiry by the Secretary of State was being , made, and Mr Maxton (Glasgow, Bridgeton, Lab.) made a similar request. Mr Adamson, however, repeated his former statement that he was communicating with the local authority, but this did not satisfy Mr Buchanan (Glasgow, Gorbals, Lab.), who intimated that he would raise the matter on the' adjournment at the earliest opportunity. Mr M'Govern also persisted in demanding an answer to his question whether the men could 'not be released, and shouted, “ This is a brutal sentence. Several lion, members on his own side told him to “ sit down,” but he angrily retorted, “ You need not tell me to sit down; I shall sit down when I like. The Speaker rose, but Mr M'Govern declined to give way, shouting, amid cries of protest, “I demand an answer. Amid the general uproar the Speaker formally “named ” the hon. member “ for disregarding the ruling of the Olitiir V Mr MacDonald, in accordance with the rules governing incidents of this nature, at once rose and moved, ‘ That Mr M'Govern be suspended from the service of the House,” whereupon Mr M'Govern retorted: “That is the only thing you can do.” —(Loud cries of “ Order.”) The House then, amid considerable excitement, divided, and the motion was carried by 315 votes fo 16—majority, 290. After announcing the figures trom the Chair, the Speaker said: The hon. member for Shettleston must leave the House forthwith. . , , . ' . Mr M'Govern remained seated in ms place, with arms folded, and shaking his head in indication that he declined to obey, the Speaker’s order. ATTENDANTS’ STRUGGLE, i

Whcu Mr M'Govern defied the order to withdraw, the Speaker called on the Ser-geant-at-Arme, Sir Colin Keppel, to remove him. The Scrgeant-at-Arms wears a sword, but it is not for use. He went on to Mr M'Govern, spoke to him, and when he shook his head retired. Four attendants, headed by a finelybuilt but no longer young man, appeared and went up the gangway near the door of the' Chamber, and began to squeeze past the occupants of the I.L.P. benches to reach Mr M'Govern. On the near side of Mr M'Govern were Mr Maxton and Mr Campbell Stephen, on the far sulc Mr Beckett (he who ran off with the Mace) and Mr Kinley. It was not easy for the attendants to get 1 to Mr M'Govern over the I.L.P. legs (writes the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph), but after a little pushing past, the leading attendant was able to lay hold of his wrists. >I(M He then tried to pull Mr M'Govern out of his seat, and, to the astonishment of the House, Mr Beckett, who is a young and strongly-built man, was observed to be helping him to resist. Whether Mr Maxton was doing the same on the other side it was impossible to see, but a good quarter ..of a minute passed while they were struggling. By that time the other t attendants had managed to squeeze past, and Mr M Govern was on his feet. MR BECKETT OBSTRUCTS. Mr Beckett then threw his arms round the stout but elderly attendant who was leading and 1 sought to’pull him away from Mr M'Govern. In the struggle his hands, perhaps by accident, may have closed found the attendant’s throat. There one cry of pain ; that may have been due either to this cause or to a kick from' someone’s knee. Struggling movements in so confined a space are not easily followed. Thereupon two other attendants arrived, and one of them went by the benches next to the wall, jumped over the back, and pulled Mr Beckett away. Then all one could see was half a dozen of the men pulling and resisting, but slowly moving towards the gangway. Meanwhile, the House sat motionless, and for the most part silent. It is not etiquette for members to assist the attendants actively in the enforcement of the Speaker’s orders, but some members looked as though they would have liked to. Mr Churchill was one 'of them, especially when Mr Beckett threw himself on the big attendant’s back. That caused strong feeling, and one member called “ Screw his neck round.” Nor was sympathy with the attendants and disgust with the fight confined to the Opposition benches. Mr Toole was noticeablv indignant, and Mr F. W. Jowett was the* first to go to the assistance of the attendant when Mr Beckett threw himself on him, but was not strong enough to pull him off.

* THE HOUSE ADJOURNED. The struggle was still in progress' when the Speaker rose and adjourned the House “in view of the grave disorder.” Soon after the Speaker had left the Chair the strugglers were in the gangway, and Mr M'Govern was being carried out into the lobby. . The struggle was one of pushing and pulling only. There were no fisticuffs, though force had to be used to Mr Beckett when he. was apparently trying to rush to the rescue of Mr M'Govern as he was being dragged out. \ Few members left the Chamber during the adjournment, and when the Speaker came back, after an absence of perhaps 15 minutes, the whole House rose to its feet, as though to atone for the show of violence to the majesty of Parliament. But the majesty of Parliament showed sad signs of affront in the torn collars, crumpled shirts, and unbuttoned waistcoats of the attendants.' They had kept a wonderful hold over their tempers in the struggle. IRISH “REBELLION” OF 1901.

The nearest parallel to this scene was the episode of March 5, 1901, when a dozen of the Irish Nationalist members were, by the Speaker's order, carried out by the police. On that occasion the House was in Committee of Supply, and the Chairman (Mr J. W. Lowther), now Lord UHswater, had granted the closure, to the discontent of the Nationalists, who expressed their resentment by refusing to clear the House for the division.

The Chairman sent for the Speaker (Mr Gully, afterwards _ Lord Selby), whose order to the recalcitrants to clear the House was equally disregarded. The sergeant-at-arms and the attendants were unable to eject the offenders, and Mr Speaker Gully created a precedent by calling in the police. In a scene of intense excitement, a strong force of police entered the House, and, concentrating on one resister after another, forced them from their places and carried them, kicking and struggling, out of the House. MR M’GOYERN IN GLASGOW. 'As for Mr M’Govern, he returned to Glasgow and defied the authorities thereby addressing a meeting on Sunday on Glasgow Green without a permit. There were about 5000 people present when Mr M’Govern, who had with him about a dozen other speakers, rose to speak. Immediately he was approached by an inspector of police, and asked if he had a permit. He replied that he had no permit, and would decline to apply for one. The names of the speakers were thereupon taken by the police. Mr M’Govern stated that he had made a careful study of the rules of debate. “My reading of the rules,” he said, “is that I claim to have been illegally and forcibly ejected from the House of Commons. ' I am going to London on Wednesday. and if I can get legal backing for that opinion, I am going to take action against the Speaker of the House of Commons and against the Serjeant-at-Arms.” Mr M’Govern contended that under I lie rules of debate the House should have been suspended before any servant of the House was allowed to cross the Bar and lay hands on any member.

Mr M'Govern’e contention, in his speech at Glasgow, that the Speaker’s action was “unconstitutional” is fantastic (writes the political correspondent of the Morning Post), and would bo supported by no I.L.P. member of any experience in Parliament.

He has shown from the time he entered the House last year his desire to make trouble, and had not to wait long before he earned suspension. The Speaker, too, exercises his own discretion as to the method by which a suspended member who refuses to leave the House can be ejected. Speaker Gully it was who called in the police on a famous occasion. MEMBERS APOLOGISE.

On Monday the members who assisted Mr M.'Govern to resist the attendants made apologies for their conduct. Mr Maxton, at the end of questions, said: I rise to ask your permission, Mr Speaker, and the indulgence of the House in order to make a personal statement. I wish to express my deep regret that during the proceedings in the House of Thursday I allowed myself to be influenced by my feelings and the circumstances of the moment and to act in a manner which, in calmer moments, I know to be indefeu sible. I have to apologise to the House for my breach of its order; to you, sir, for the difficulties I created for you in the discharge of your duties as custodian of the liberties of the House, and to those servants of the House with whom I came into conflict when they were carrying out, under orders,' a difficult and disagreeable duty. My regret is all the deeper since I have been personally indebted to you, Mr Speaker, for much consideration, and since I have received at the hands of the messengers concerned unfailing kindness and courtesy.— (Cheers.) Mr Kinley (Soc., Bootle) associated himself “completely and unreservedly” with what Mr Maxton had said. Mr Buchanan (Soc.. Gorbals) expressed his concurrence in the apology, and said: “ I am very sorry about the attendants. They come from much the same class of society”—(Opposition cries of “Oh.” He was sure they were all three sincere in their regrets. ' . Mr Beckett (Soc., Peckham) associated himself “ completely and fully ” with Mr Maxton in his apology. “My own part,’ he added, “was entirely unpremeditated and was regretted immediately afterwards Within 10 minutes of the incident I went to the ihessengers to find out whether there was any truth in the rumour that one of them was hurt, and if there was to express my deep regret. I am very glad to say they responded to my regrets in a most generous way, and I have only to ask to be allowed to express my regret very sincerely to you, Mr Speaker.” THE MATTER TO REST.

Mr MacDonald: I am sure the House will be very gratified indeed that apologies have been made. If I may say so, the beautifully sincere and frank statement by Mr Maxton —(cheers) —can .be taken- as a model. We all know what he must have felt in offering that apology. Also with regard to Mr Kinley And Mr Buchanan I-think it is my duty, and I think I am carrying out the desires of the House, if I ask the House to allow the matter to remain there.— (Cheers.) The apology offered by Mr Beckett might, I think, have been a little more more thorough and ' whole-hearted—(Opposition cheers)—but I feel that perhaps it would be the desire of the House to. take that, too, and allow the .whole matter to rest.— (Cheers.) . . 1 Mr Baldwin (Leader of the Opposition): I concur in what the Prime Minister has said. I suggest that he should move that these proceedings be entered upon the journals of the House. Mr Ramsay MacDonald; I intended to do that, but I was waiting to see whether •that was the desire of the House, I move it now. '■■■., . Mr Beckett: In addition to expressing myself unreservedly in agreement with Mr Maxton, I made a form of apology which was brief, but which I understood after consultation was the proper form. _ If there is anything the Prime Minister would suggest 1 that I should add I will be delighted to do so. Mr Lloyd George thought the Prime Minister had taken the right course. In view of the very complete apologies which had been offered the sooner that disagreeable incident was forgotten the better. The Prime Minister’s motion was agreed to.