DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13846, 31 October 1913, Page 5

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

Last- night in the House of Representatives Sir J. G. _Ward drew tho attention of /the Prime Minister to statements made to him concerning happenings in connection with tho strike that evening. He had been informed by reputable and responsible men, m no way connected with the strike, of what was to his mind a most serious occurrence. So far as his side of the House was concerned he stated! that they were in favour of maintaining law and order, but he deemed it his duty to ■ bring before the Leader of the House what had transpired ia the Post Office Square that afternoon. A large number of people, most of whom were in no way connected with the strike, found themselves in tho position of being galloped over by a,. number of mounted police and special police. Those men, after riding past the gathered crowds for some distance, suddenly •'. turned, diverged 70 yards, and galloped through the crowd, ' ia which were a number of women. Meia who while engaged j as those con .stabler? were to-day, lost.' their heads, !musli be held responsible for the afcidenta such as had occurred. A member oft the Waterside Workers' Union Lad also informed him that until the. display 'by the special constables, with batons, order had been . i aintainetil amongst the unionists, but the display, had had a marked effect i.jioti tho men. His informant had stated that' he could not imagine what he had. seen possible in this country. As tlurga were going now there was Sire i.i bo bloodshed. The incident u;*d caused &■ very keen sense of resentment among the people, who wanted to see the matter honourably ended. The Hon W.-F. Massey, in replying, said he had heard nothing cf the matter iuit.il a fyw moments'ago, and if Sir J. G. Ward's statements wero found to be correct (and he did not doubt him) he would have it ended.. The Government had done everything possible to bring the two parties together with a view to ending the dispute, but the negotiations had bee» broken off. He could not say whea they would be resumed. The Governmenf recognised that it was its duty; to keep the ports open and thbio-. dustrie.s.going, also to put c*own lawlessness." 'He., wanted the ' corporation of the Loader" oT the Opposition an# his party in settling the strike.

Sir J. G. Ward said he and bis party were against lawlessness, but he» would not stand by or see tho happenings ho had described, without drawing attention thereto. Everything possible should have been done before tho stdjje was allowed to take place. The :jfibn. W. F. Massajv-rf-plsing, said, he had that moment heard thai a "party of mounted constables, together with sonic special convWbies, were proceeding along the water fixni when they were subjected to extreme provocation. They were peltod with stonog, and one constable was so seriously injured that he may not icvover.. He repeated that ho would make inquiries into tho whole matter.

■ ; Mr. P. C. Webb asked whethor ii> view of the fact that the wiioJe town was electrified, the Government vould withdraw the special constables.

The. Hon. A. L. Hcrdman replied that the Government would not viT>hdraw tho special constables, but circumstances had occurred in the past few days that would render it necessary to enrol more constables in c der that the people could go about, their .business in the ordinary v/ay. Mr. Webh: 'ihen you will l»' il©* sponsible-for any murders.