NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 6

NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT

RIOTOUS SCENE,

The New South Wales Legislative Assembly has on former occasions attained unenvious notoriety by the gross misbe- I haviour of some of its members. On Tues-. day, September 19, however, it filled itsoup aim revealed to tne public the undesirable side of its character. A short description of the scene was cabled to New Zealand. The papers of Sydney of the next day contained r a full account. One of these narratives says: — . i A few -minutes after the Legislative Assembly met yesterday Mr David Storey asked the Premier if his attention had been drawn to certain remarks made by a mem- j ber of the House, who had characterised , certain members of Parliament as *.' ruffians," and, if so j Mr Fitzpatrick: He is a ruffian himself. Mr David Storey: I am not saying that because I am a respectable person, but I ask-the Premier, looking at his responsible position in the House, will he take steps to have this hon. member brought before the bar of Parliament and have him "arraigned ? (Opoositipn enters.) ' .. Mr M Gowen: As I intimated last week it was the intenton of the Government not to answer any qestions without notice, I ask the hon. member to give notice of the Question. .- ' Mr Wade: I desire to ask the Premier •without notice is there any understanding between the Government and the member for the Upper Hunter, or the Speaker, that no business shall be taken during this session that The Speaker: Order! That question has been asked on more than one occasion. The hon. member is out of order. Mr Wood: Has the Premier's attention boon drawn to a statement made by the member for the Upper Hunter that a certain arrangement exists and certain detaiis have been arranged between the member < for the Upper Hunter and the Government as to what business the Government should take? Will he say whether these details are , true or not? j Mr M'Gowen: Surely the hon. member cannot think that) having refused to answer other hon. gentlemen, I will answer him. | Mr Fitzpatrick: Oh, why don't you be straight? " \ Mr M'Gowen (testily) : Why don't I do the business in the way I think fit? —(Government cheers.) , _ I Mr Fitzpatrick: You are only a chip in porridge. You know that. —(Laughter.) j Dr Arthur: I wish to draw the attention of the House to certain slanderous state- ! ments made by a member of this House regarding other hon. members. I beg to move that the clerk read these statements. — (Opposition cheers.) INDICTING THE PRESS. The Speaker: understand the hon. member wishes to'' make an indictment against the press? —(Laughter and disorder, during which Mr Cohen engaged in argument across the table with Mr M'Gowen). The Speaker: Order ! The hon. member for Petersham is out of order. If the hon. ' member for Middle Harbour wishes to make an indictment against the press, and can I vouch for the correctness of the report, I ' will hear him. Otherwise he will not be heard. j Or Cohen : I want to ask you, Sir, if the ] statement reported in the papers as having boon made by the hon. member for Upper Hunter, designating hon. members of this House as a band of ruffians, is correct. j Mr Fitzpatrick: He is the biggest ruffian of them all. j The Speaker: Several how. members have already referred to this matter, and inas- '< much as they are able to vouch for the ' truth of the report (Laughter and dis- | order.) Opposition (members: Too thin! ; Mr Levy: I can vouch for the correotoers ' of the report, on the word of a gentleman ' who was there-, and whose word I would take. Mr Wood: I will vouch for it, too. The Speaker: The hon. member is very much out of order, and I shall not call him ; to order again. j Mr Moxham: But do you deny tho state- j meat, Mr Speaker?—(Opposition cheers.) Tho Speaker: Order! (Dr Arthur rose.) ■ Tho hon. member must resume his seat. I pay, finally now.that hon. members must be respectful to the Chair. j Dr Arthur: When you called me to order, ] Mr Speaker I was moving, according to' firecedant, that the clerk read certain oxracts from a newspaper which contains

statements reflecting very seriously upon certain members of this House. I move, therefore, that the clerk read the extracts. The Speaker: Does the hon. member intend to bring the indictment against the press ? Members of the Opposition: No; against a member of this House. The Speaker: Who is the member? Dr Arthur: Against the hon. member for the Upper Hunter.—(Opposition cheers.) The Speaker: If the hon. member can vouch for the correctness of the report, then Hi, all probability the member for the Upper Hunter will have something to say, but, failing that, the House cannot consider what appears in the press. Mr Fell: I desire to ask -whether, in the opinion of the hon. member for the Upper Hunter, the Liberal party, of which I am a member, is composed of a band of ruffians? "OUT OF ORDER." The Speaker: The hon. member is also following a course which has been declared out of order. Let me say now that I shall not call to order several members who have hitherto broken the Standing Orders more than the stipulated number of times. Mr Cohen) asked the Premier if, having had brought under his notice these statements made by an hon. member reflecting upon other hon. members, did he not think it his duty, ae Leader of the House, to take nrmediate steps to have these statements verified or withdrawn. Mr M'Gowen: I want the hon. member to understand that, if I have refused to answer questions put by other hon. members, it would bo most unfair to thean if I was to answer him. The Speaker: The honour of the House is in the hands of the Speaker—(laughter and cries of "Oh, oh,") —and if there is any .disorder it is for the Speaker to take action. Mr Fitzpatrick: I desire to ask you, sir, is the hon. member for the Upper Hunter responsible for a challenge reported to have been directed by him to the Tion. member for Gordon to resi<rn his seat.—(Cries of " Chair," chair.") Chair yourself. , The Speaker: The hen. member for Orange has again disobeyed the ruling of the Chair. Mr Fitzpatrick: In what way ? The Speaker: In the midst of a question to mo he. made an impertinent interjection across the table. That is disrespectful to the Chair. Mr Fitzpatrick: Mr Speaker, is it correct, as stated in the public press, that a challenge has been thrown out bv the member for the Upper Hunter to the memb'r for Gordon t> resign and contest the Upper Hunter scat? Will you say whether that challenge refers to the present or to an election which may take place next week, next year, or the year afterward? The Speaker: I would point out thai, as Speaker, the Speaker knows nothing of what takes place outside the House.— (Laughter.) Dr Arthur: Do I understand that my motion that the clerk read the extracts is ruled out of order? _■ The Speaker: If the hon. member is lacking in intelligence I will tell him. Opposition members: That is insulting. The Speaker: I have told him twice already that he is out of order. Mr Ball: I desire to know if I may n-sk an hon. member a question through you, Mr Speaker? The Speaker: If the hon. member is in charge of a bill or a motion the hon. member for Corowa would bo quite in order in doing so. Mr Ball: In regard to statements that may be made in the public press, may I not be in order in asking: whether he was correctly reported or not? "NO COGNISANCE OF THE PRESS." The Speaker: This House can take no cognisance of what takes place in the press, unless the matter refers to some business of this House. If the hon. member is in chargo of a measure or motion or any business bo for o the House, any hon. m ember may ask him questions with refereivo to it; otherwise he is out of order. Mr Lovion: Go down to the Stadium and have it out. Mr Fell: If it refers to the honour of hon. members in the House it naturally affects the business of the House. Mr David Storey: There is no honour loft in this Houso at all.—(Opposition cheers.) Mr Ball repeated his question. The- Speaker: The hon. member is probably unaware that this House cannot take any cognisance of what takes place in the press. If the hon. member brings before tho bar of this House the printer of the paper it is possible ho will be able to elicit some information from that gentleman as to the of the matter.

Mr Fell: Without transgi-cssing your ruling, Mr Speaker, I wish to ask the Prima Minister, as custodian of the honour of Parliament, has his attention been drawn to the statements that this House has contained in it a band of ruffians?

The Speaker rs Once more the hon. member has infringed the ruling of the chair. If the honour of this House is- concerned the Speaker is the mouthpiece of this House, and not the Prim© Minister. Mr John Perry (The Richmond): May 1 ask what is to bo done, then? The Speaker: The proper course to take is laid down in the Standing Orders. I havo previously pointed out how it may be done, and if I am asked in a respectful way, privately, I may inform hon. members. MrM'Court: I wish to know, Mr Speaker, if you designated myself and other hon. members of this House a band of ruffians. The Speaker: The hon. member for Wollondilly must know that the House cannot take any cognisance of what appears in the press. Mr Moxham: But do you deny it, Mr Speaker?—(Opposition cheers.) Dr Arthur: As a matter of privilege I beg to move that the editor of the Sy:in«v Morning Herald bo summoned to the bar of the House and asked whether the statements contained in the issue of yesterday (September 18) are accurate. —(Opposition cheers.) I move that the extract be read. The Speaker: Order! Have hon. members any other questions? Mr Fitzpatrick: I would like to know, Mr Speaker, whether you would accept from me for presentation to the hon. member for the Upper Hunter my resignation as a. member of this House, Which I am prepared to lodge if he will lodge his, and I am prepared to fight him in the Upper Hunter. —(Opposition . cheers, and Government cries of "Fireworks'") It is not fireworks. The Speaker.: The hon. member for Orange is again disputing with the chair.-'— (Laughter.) MR COHEN PERSISTENT. Mr Cohen: I would like to ask, Sir, through you, did the hon. :nember for the Upper Hunter state to his constituents on Saturday evening last that there was an arrangement between the Government and the Speaker in respect to the conduct of business, and that part of that arrangement was tliat they were not to bring in any business which the Liberal party would consider of a contentious nature. The Speaker: The hon. member no doubt is. talking about something he saw in the press. Mr Cohen: No, I am not. I am talking about what I was told by someone who was there. The Speaker: I have repeatedly told the hon. member for Petersham that if he again offended ho would have to bo removed.—(Disorder, during which the Speaker remained standing.) When quietness was obtained, the Speaker continued : Sergeant) remove the hon. member for Petersham !"—(Renewed disorder.) Mr Cohen rose as the Sergeant approached, and moved to leave the Chamber, but he was seized by Mr Fitzpatrick, who shouted, '•' No, you are going to stop here." The House was immediately in an uproar. Mr Cohen made another attempt to reach the door, saying, "Before' I go I want to say I never opened my lips since you spoke to me, and would like to know what you ordered my removal, for." Mr Wood (rising and blocking Mr Cohen's «xit) : " Yes, let's hear what for." The space on the floor of the House between the front Opposition bench and the table became in a moment a. mass of struggling humanity. The Sergcant-at-Arms, backed up by the messengers, endeavoured to persuade Mr Cohen to leave, but Messrs Wood, Varney Parkes, Millard, Perry (The Richmond), Moxham, and Fitzpatrick blocked the way and pushed, while Mr Price, Mr Fell, Mr Lonsdale, and other hon. members became mixed up on the other flank of the scrimmage. In the midjt of the hubbub Mr Wade could be observed vainly appealing to the Speaker and to the Premier who sat in his seat throughout the proceedings, without a weird or a movement. Mr Cohen (shaking the Sergeant off): Before I go I say they (pointing to members of the Ministry) ought to be ashamed to sit there and allow these proceedings to go on. Mr Wood: We will all go out if we know why. but you tell us what for. SPEAKER LEAVES THE CHAIR. The uproar continued for some minutes, and then the Speaker rose, took up his papers, and left the Chair", aunid continuous "boo-boos" from the Opposition. Mr Perry (The Richmond) leaped into

the Ohair, and, picking up the books and blotting-pad from the desk, hurled them after tne departing Speaker. Members of the Ministry followed the Speaker from the Chamber, and the House was shortly left in comparative quietness, though knots of excited members remained arguing amongst themselves for some time. ALTERCATION RESUMED. At 5.30 the members reassembled, and the scene was renewed. Mr Fitzpatrick, who was the centre of a small coterie of Oppositionists, raised some merriment by announcing at intervals, "Gentlemen, M;r Squeaker!" "Bring in the Squeaker!" the while Mr Levy was pacing nervously up and down the Opposition side of the table. When the clock in the Chamber pointed to 5.30, all of the members of the Opposition had taken their places, but the Government tenches were almost, bare. Mr Cohen, still calm and smiling, re-„ turned with his colleagues and took his seat. Three minutes later the bell sounded, and Government members filed into their seats. The Speaker took his seat unnoticed, and commenced nervously to fumble some papers on his desk. Nothing was said for a moment, and, as the Speaker remained seated, Mr Wade rose and said, "Mr Speaker." At once the Speaker rose, with his command of "Order!" and Mr Wade sat down. " Same old thing," was the loud comment of Opposition members. The Speaker: As hon. members are aware, I had to leave the chair owing to unseemly conduct on the. part of several hon. members whom I repeatedly called to order under a certain Standing Order. THE MEMBER FOR BEGA. Taking no notice of the interruptions which came from all parts of the House, the Speaker called up the Serjeant-at-Arms, saying, " Sergeant, you will have the assistance of the messengers of this House. You will remove the hon. member for Bega!" Immediately there was again uproar, and Opposition members crowded round Mr Wood, holding on to his arms, and forming a ring about him, apparently determined ito keep him in the Chamber. Mr Wood (to the Speaker): I ask you what for? An Opposition Member: We'd better all go out with him now! By this time the Serjeant and his assistants—some white-haired ' veterans —were closing in on the Opposition fortifications, and one or two of the energetic messengers laid hands on Mr Wood, who all the time was gesticulating loudly. He cried: " Let the leader of the House deal with me! Let the House deal with me! I call upon the Leader of the House to get up and move a motion to deal with me!" But Mr M'Gowen, to whom these appeals were made, sat in his ohair, -smiling grimly. He said nothing. An Opposition Member (to Mr Wood): Better go out! The Democrats and the Government members were quiet, as before, only answering occasional interjections; but on the Opposition side, cramped between the table and tho benches, was a surging mob—MrWood in the centre, with colleagues and perspiring messengers at cross purposes mauling him about. Mr Wood followed the example set by members around him, and beat off his assailants. "You will only nto trouble," he shouted as ho loosened a grip on his shoulder, and forced back a couple of messengers who were charging his front. " I am willing to be dealt with by this House," again shouted Mr Wood, looking across at the silent Government members. There was no response, and Mr Wood and his friends renewed their defence with great vigour. The Sergeant himself had by this time reached Mr Wood, and had laid hands upon him : Having seen Mr Wood removed, The Speaker called on the police to remove Mr Cohen, who had before the adjournment withstood the efforts of the Ser-geant-at-Arms in the same direction. Mir M'Court (to the Speaker): Mr Tyrant, I ask you to remove me.—(Loud Liberal cheering.) Immediately afterwards the Speakers' voice was heard, "Sergeant, remove _ the hon. member for Orange, Mr Fitzpatrick." Mr Fitzpatrick left the House before the Sergeant could approach him, and called out to the iSpea.ker, "You tinpot tyrant. I will go out for you-"—(Labour laughter.) A Labour Member: You have to go. " Remove Mr Perry," was the next order

from, the Chair, and amid the most violent scene of all, the member for the Richmond. made a forcible exit. "Sergeant, remove Mr Price," was the next sentence from the Chair, and the member f«,L- Gloucester retired gracefully. A Liberal Member: Who is next ? Another Member: Let the police take their seats here. " TYRANNY." Mr M'Court (shouting to the Labour members opposite): You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Tyranny ! Mr Fallick also angrily spoke to the Ministerial side. Mr Lonsdale: An outrage on the liberty of Parliament.—(Opposition cheers.) Mr Levy asked the Speaker to accept his assurance that there had been applause from the public, a thing unprecedented in the House. The Speaker: The hon. member is again out of order. Mr Moxhaan: Suirely the hon. member is in cirder in stating "what he has heardThe Speaker: The hon. member for Parrairatta, Mr Moxham, is out of order.— (Liberal laughter.) Mr Moxham: There will be nobody ir/the House eoon The Speaker: The hon- member for Parrarratta is again disorderly. " MUST." The Speaker called upon Dr Arthur to proceed with his motion of privilege. Dr Arthur: I do not desire to do so. The Speaker: The hon. member must procoed with the matter. Liberal Members: "Must?" Mr Henley: You said he must. The Speaker; Sergeant, remove the hon. member for Parraniatta, Mr Moxham. —■ (Liberal laughteT.) Mr Moxham: I never spoke. It is absolutely disgraceful. Mr FaJlick: It was another member. Dr Arthur moved that the extracts from the Herald be read by the Clerk. Suddenly the Speaker directed the removal of Mr Levy. Mr Levy (in complete astonishment): In. what resv>ect have I offended? The Speaker (doggedly): Sergeant, remove the hon. member. Mr Levy: Before I go out, may I ask The Speaker: Sergeant, put him outWithout further ado, the representative of Darlinghurst went out perforce.