BITTERNESS IN THE HOUSE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11365, 11 October 1917, Page 2

BITTERNESS IN THE HOUSE.

FEELING RUNS HIGH.

[By Telegraph—“ Times” Special.] WELLINGTON, Last Night.

Though the joint caucus may have brought the principal parties in Parliament closer together, it has created bitter feeling in other directions, as was shown by several incidents in the House and the Lobby to-night.

During the third reading debate, on the War Pensions Bill, feeling appeared to be high at the commencement between those who attended the caucus and the half-dozen who were not there. The bitterness grew as the evening went on until it culminated in a scene between Mr Hindmarsh, Labour member for Wellington South, and Mr Pearce, member for Pa tea. Mr Hindmarsh hotly attached the country members supporting the Government, declaring they preferred sacrificing men to wealth. Some of the members criticised smiled broadly, and Mr Hindmarsh singled out Mr Pearce, declaring he was the sort of man who would not trouble about the sacrifice of manhood so long as he could remain at home to make money. Mr Pearce retorted: "If I was a young man I would have been at the front. ’ ’

The answer of the Labour member was: “I can tell by your face you are an absolute cur."

“Quite right!” put in another mem

Mr Speaker intervened to secure the withdrawal of the offensive phrase. Mr Mindmarsh followed up an apology with a complaint that Mr Pearce appeared to think it was a laughing- matter. There was a sequel in the lobby -a few minutes later, when a member who had interjected while the principal .-antagonists -were exchanging hot words found himself in an argument which ended in a heavy blow on the nose for one party and a grazed wound on the cheek far the other.

It is alleged that the same pair renewed their fisticuffs in Bellamy's a little later and that a Minister assisted to separate the contestants.