SCENE IN COMMONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18335, 1 March 1934, Page 8

SCENE IN COMMONS

UNEMPLOYMENT DEBATE TREATMENT OF MARCHERS LABORITE ’S OUTBURST (British Official Wireless.) llec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 28. Replying to the House of Commons debate, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald said the refusal to see the marchers’ deputation implied no lack of sympathy with tlie unemployed. Every Government, including Labor Governments, had refused similar requests, and the Trades Union Congress had also refused to receive the marchers’ deputations. While agreeing that the men had behaved in an exemplary fashion, he maintained that it was adding to the distress to induce unemployed people to march to London. Last niglit the marchers held various meetings in different parts of London, but no; disorder occurred. The audiences were, in some cases, so small that the meetings were abandoned.

An unusual scene was witnessed in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament this afternoon when some hundreds of unemployed, including representatives of several sections of the unemployed marchers, presented tnemselves individually for admission to the House of Commons, ostensibly to interview the members for tneir constituencies. Normally applicants for admission to the House do not overtax tho accommodation available, hut in view of tho large number presenting themselves at the public entrance to-day the police on duty found it necessary to restrict admissions. Those waiting admission were marshalled in a queue by the police, mounted and on foot.

Snow and sleet which fell intermittently during the afternoon added to the discomfort and taxed the patience of those waiting their turn to enter the House, hut good order prevailed. After waiting for about two hours, those who were unsuccessful in securing admission dispersed. A large number of those who obtained admission were entertained to tea by their members, one party comprising between 40 and 50. The subject was raised in the Chamber by Mr. J. McGovern,. who, on a point of order, interrupted tho debate and protested that unemployed men seeking access to their members were being denied the right of admission, and were being discriminated against in favor of other members of the public. The Speaker said there had been r.o change in the ordinary rules governing admission. He accepted the entire responsibility for tlie rules, and did not propose to alter them. The rules involved no distinction as between one class of persons and another. Mr. McGovern asserted that the unemployed were being kept queued up outside, standing in the rain, while better dressed people were being immediately admitted. He concluded: “I think it is most unfair, and a damnable outrage.” The Speaker: I will not have that sort of language in the House. I am sure the normal procedure is being followed. Mr McGovern insisted that discrimination was being shown. (Loud cries of (‘Order!”) Mr. McGovern: To hell with your order: you are all attempting to govern the House.

Mr. McGovern, as he walked out, shouted: “This damned House is only a farce.”

Later, the question was again raised by another Labor member, and the tleputv-Speaker, who was then in tin* chair, said he hud made inquiries and his information wap that nothing outside the ordinary practice had boon followed. No discrimination was ho jug exercised, and the police wore acting in accordance with the usual rule,.which precluded the entry of further persons into passages and lobbies so long as t}iey rvere as full as was convenient. Others, therefore, could not he admitted until some went out.

The House accepted tlie explanation and proceeded with the routine business.