“UNCONTROLLED RAGE”

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 9

“UNCONTROLLED RAGE”

STORMY SCENE IN HOUSE

MINISTERS COME TO GRIPS

CHARGES OF CORRUPTION

DISTURBANCE AT CANBERRA

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Canberra, Dec. 17.

There was an angry scene in the House of Representatives to-night when Mr. J. E. FentOn introduced the schedule imposing an export duty of 4d per pound on sheepskins in wool, obviously with the idea of helping the local fellmongery industry. Opposition members shouted “Scandalous!” and “How much did the Labour Party get out of this?” while somebody interjected with something about the Mungana leases, which brought Mr. Theodore to his feet. ■ . - He walked towards the Opposition benches amid a terrific din and a fight seemed imminent, but the intervention of members of both sides of the House prevented a ■ display of fisticuffs, which a minute before seemed inevitable. The Herald and Pictorial News describe the scene as the most disgraceful ever witnessed.

Mr. Fenton’s opening words were received with uproar from Opposition members, 'who shouted: “This is the worst job that has ever been put over here.” v '< Mr. Green :! “It is a barefaced robbery.” Mr. Parkhill: “It is an absolute swindle.” Mr- Gullett: “And a public scandal.”;

The chairman of committees-vainly called for order, but the disorder became overwhelming.

Mr. Fenton resumed his seat and upon continuing later a remark about the Mungana leases caused a violent storm. - The Speaker abruptly left the chair, and the scene culminated when Messrs. Theodore and Latham came to grips and strug-j gled, while many colleagues formed an excited ring round them. All sense of decency was lost in, uncontrolled rage.

'■SKIN TRADE DISORGANISED

POSTPONEMENT OIL THE SALES.

Rec. 10.30 p.m. Melbourne, Dec. 18 i General surprise is expressed at the Federal Government’s export duty of a halfpenny a pound on sheepskins, in face of an adverse report by the Tariff Board.. The trade in sheepskins was coiisequently completely disorganised. . Sales set down for to-day were postponed until to-morrow to enable the exporters to consider the position. The unanimous opinion after their meeting was that the duty would depreciate the value of sheepskins throughout Australia to the full amount ,of the export duty. The view was also expressed that the country members of the Labour Baity would suffer at the next election for allowing .such heavy losses to be passed on £0 the wool-growers.