A VIOLENT FINISH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 5 January 1912, Page 3

A VIOLENT FINISH.

HOWDY SCENES IN PAULI.AMENT SESSION ENDS IN UPltOAil BLO W S THAI- EATEN ED. “A sensational ending to a sensational session.” was .the comment of one ineinher of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on the evening of December ISth. The comment was very near the mark, for the House broke up amid scenes of disorder, temper, and violence, which surely formed the culminating point of a Parliamentary priod winch will stand in the history of New South Wales as one of its most deplorable incidents. Vigour of debate has all to frequently descended into mere violence of language, and members who in private life, would scorn to take part in such proceedings, have either participated in, or been the unwilling witnesses of scenes that would have done no credit to an Assembly possessing far less claims to recognition than the State Government of an immense colony. The trouble began when the Premier moved the adjournment of the House until .Monday, February 19th. Mr. McGowen said that members would acquit his party of anything but a serous desire to do their work well and conscientiously. There might be political differences, but the feelings of all true men were never carried beyond tiie Chamber. During his long connection with Parliament he could always meet his political opponents as friends outside of the House. He expressed his appreciation of the faithful discharge of their duties by the officers of the House, and concluded that he hoped to finish the session in April or May. Mr. Wade who rose immediately the Premier had resumed Ids seat,- said that the humiliation and degradation to which the House hud been subjected during the preceding three months had become a matter of notriety.

The Speaker at once called upon Mr Wade to withdraw the word “degradation” and apoligise. Mr Wade accordingly apologised, adding that lie would not give it a name nor discuss it; but wfiat they had been subjected to during the past three months could not be wiped out nor effaced from their memories. They could not be expected to try and forgive or forget the past. Ho did not want to dwell on the matter, or accenuate present differences, and lie merely remarked upon the resentment which Opposition members felt to the treatment meted out to them.

There was at once considerable uproar and disorder, and the Speaker told members that they must be well behaved. “I must toll the Leader of the Opposition,” said the Speaker “that he has offended twice. He must not revive old debates, and must be amendable to the rules.” Mr. Wade said ho had made no refernco to old debates, but had simply; referred to the conditions of Parliament, which it was not expected they could efface from their minds.

The Premier: “Forget it for-the time being and have a glass of chain-, pagne.” v * J V IGf:j Y I Mr. Wade: “A good dciih depends ; on. the company you have.” .Loud Opposition cheering greetin' 1 tile retort, and, proceeding, Mr. Wade ijkc.j. iCJtjKiIS- in.tc.udt.uL ia-hcwi - rule,, that' the"' Speaker could alter the speech of a member of the House inHansard.?

The Speaker: “If the lion, member, offends again 1 will have him removed.” 1 Without concluding ids speech Mr; 1 ' Wade at once deliberately and ca hilly walked out of the Chamber, whilst cheers and counter-cheers were indulged in by . members on the, two sidks ■*i?f t'-AV ;TsldbeiKvpPff qio*fffOhor speeches wpifcp tJiM)Bp*sjMjei.\£Jse, fio was greeted' wjtjlp; v ]oucLbgy9iVfisf-.«nd varid ohsery'a-t* ions. ...Deploring that “the House, del now adjourn, ”,i .the- Speaker Astepped, ■from his rostrum, and shook-, hands:’ with several ‘membersthe Government prior'to his departure from the Chamber-"- 1 '■■■ . y - v ■

Meanwhile, 1 'members. • of Government imd Opposition crowded into the 'lobby, and as Air Willis passed through to Jiis own loom he was thesubject of an angry demonstration on die part of - members of ,the Opposition, who, lining up in disorderly array, greeted him with groans and cries of general condemnation, several very pointed references to his treatment of the “Hansard” chief being distinctly audible above the din, which arose to its pitch of highest violence as Mr Willis was in the act of entering the Speaker’s room. Government members wore also on the scene in big numbers, answering with every sign of bitterness the calls of the Oppositionists, and for several seconds the lobby locked like being the scene of actual fisticuffs, for at least one member of the Government showed anxiety to “get at” a political opponent, and was only held back by the superior physical force of half a dozen colleagues. A Minister and an ex-Min is ter were also at severe loggerheads, whilst the shouting attracted both members and strangers from all parts of the building, who,, crowding into, the lobby, made the disorder all the more pronounced. For several minutes the demonstration and counter demonstration was kept up, and though no blows were struck, this was not because the would-be temper was not there, or because the would-be participants were able to display any wide measure of self-restraint. Gradually, however, tempers cooled, and a touch of the ludicrous was added to the situation when Mr G. ".Miller led a few of his follow members in the singing of “Who Killed Cock Robin?”—still, by the way, in the lobby—and whilst Opposition inomhers returned to their room prior to .departure from the House itself, Government members sought the re-Frcv-hnient room from whence could subsequently ho heard the vo.cal strains- of a more or less melodious character, indicating a return to the harmony, of mind in which all rl;e members’of the Assembly might lon e joined had they not been kept hack by a perfectly human inability to shake off, at bidding, the memory of months of flagrant injustice. Put it was a sorry wind-up nevertheless.