Scene in the House of Commons.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5014, 23 May 1889, Page 3

Scene in the House of Commons.

On March 16fch there was what London papers describe as an exciting scene in the House of Commons.. The Attorney-General was replying, in committee of the House, to charges made against him by Sir W. Harcourt in connection with the Pigott letters, and was a good deal interrupted. The chairman had warned one Irish member, Mr Biggar, that if he could not restrain himself he would have to ask him to retire, and a little later another noisy interruption occurred, the Attorney-General being called to order by Parneliites for saying that he left the matter of the charges “not to the judgment of those members below the gangway, but he left it to the judgment of any honourably minded man in that House.” At this comparison of members there were loud cries of “ order ” from tho Parneliites, and “question,” and “withdraw,” and the following is reported as nest occurring : The Chairman : The bon. and learned gentleman is out of order in using that expression. (Parnellito cheers,) Order, order. I must order tho hon. member for South Mayo (Mr T. IT. O’Brien) to retire. (Ministerial cheers, and Parnellite cries of “Bo,” and “Don’t.”) Mr W. Redmond : Don’t retire. (Loud Ministerial cries of “ Order,” and Parnellite cheers). Mr O’Brien: Mr Courtney, I did not open my lips. (Parnellite cheers.) The Chairman: Order, order. The hon. Member for South Mayo has been grossly disorderly, and in fulfilment of the power reposed in me I have to order him to retire. (Ministerial cheers, and loud Parnellite cries of “ He said nothing.”) Mr O’Brien: Mr Courtney, I did not open my lipes, (Parnellite cheers, and cries of “ Don’t retire.”) The Chairman : Order, order. I order you to retire. (Cries of “ Don’t retire.’’) Mr T. P. O'Connor (excitedly) : I rise to a point of order. I wish, sir, to ask you, Mr Courtney, on a point of order, when you charge a member of this house with disorderly conduct by interruption, and when the member so charged pledges his word to you, sir, and to the House, that he has never opened his lips, I wish to ask whether you are going to put that lie upon him before the House—(loud ministerial cries of “order”) and “ withdraw”)—and without investigation —(“ order”) —and whether, without that member having an opportunity of making out his case, you would hold him guilty of a charge which he denies ? (Parnellito cheers.) Mr Pinkerton ; I sat beside the hon. member and I can positively assure you, sir, that the hon. gentlemen never opened his lips—(Parnellite cheers) —or interrupted. (Renewed Parnellite cheers.) The chairman : I will accept the disclaimer. (loud Parnellito- cheers)—if the hon. member for South Mayo will not disclaim having repeatedly interrupted in a very loud voice earlier in the evening, and when I warned him not to repeat his conduct. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr O’Brien: I must disclaim, Mr Courtney, the charge you have [put upon me, a charge which is perfectly unjustifiable. (Parnellite cheers, and Ministerial cries of “ order.”) Tho chairman : Order, order. I have accepted the disclaimer of the hon member of general and repeated interruption. (Cries of “You repeated the charge,” followed by cries of “ order.”) Does tho hon. gentleman disclaim having interrupted earlier in the evening?—(Ministerial laughter and cries of “Oh ?”—Mr. O’Brien not at first replying to tho question.) Mr O’Brien : I think, Mr Courtney, that you have treated me most unfairlv. (Loud Parnellite cheers and Ministerial cries of “order.”) After withdrawing the charge you repeated it again, and I say you have acted unjustly in doing so, (Ministerial cries of “ No ” and “ Name,” and Parnellito cheers.) The Chairman : I think the hon. Member can scarcely have understood me. (Ministerial cheers) I accepted his disclaimer of having interrupted in a disorderly manner on this occasion 5 but I am under the impression that I observed him frequently during this discussion interrupt in a disorderly manner. If he makes a disclaimer of those interruptions I shall accept it, but I do not understand that at present he has disclaimed tho previous interruptions. (Ministerial cheers.) Mr O’Brien : I have not, Mr Courtney, been guilty of any interruption whatever, beyond ordinary cheering. (Ministerial laughter and Parnellite cheers.) Tho Chairman : I accept that statement. ■ (Ministerial cheers.)