BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12867, 24 May 1905, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

AN ) EXCITING! SCENE I^t TH?E HOUSI3 OF COMMONS.

• DISGRACEFUL UPEOA.R,

United Preßi Association.— By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. t TKames, May 23,, .When the Right Hon; A. Lyttelton, Secretaryj for the Colonies, rose to reply to Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-' man (Leader of the Opposition) on the" fiscal question, the Opposition shouted : "Balfaur 1 we want to hear you," 1 the tumult continuing many mintotes.Mr Lyttelton, standing at the table, j vainly tried to speak. <• Mr* Balfour (Prime } (Minister) satf smiling 1 calmly. The Rjght.Hon. J. W. Lowther, who has Ijcen" ' Depiity-Speater for three weflks owing to the Speaker's illness, repeatedly appealed to the House to give Mr Lyttelton a hearing. " The Opposition persisted, and maintained an uproar, while the Ministerialists indulged in loiiid jirotests. The Nationalists; deliberately triedto increase tho confusion with ironical/ interjections /to send for the Irishpolice and 1 Horse GAiards to clear the.. House. - ■ • Mv Dillon / shouted : "Such a* 'disgraceful paralysis of business has not happened for fifty years."-. Messrs Churchill, > Burns, Lloyd George, and Lord HugK J Cecil yainly intervened. . - > r Mv Lyttelton's } attempts td speak 1 were alw"ay» drowned in % cries a^id 1 groans. ) V " Mr Lowthor repeatedly tried to calni the Opposition, warning them "it was; unusual to dictate in what order the Government should speak. ( The Opposition was forging a very danger^ ons weapton,! which might "be usedf against themselves "hereafter. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman 'de-* clared it was impossible for the debate to proceed unless^ Mr Balfour ; spoke immediately. Mir Balfour took a stand and stat-< ed he intended to wait until a full indictment was developed, j Even a criminal in the dock; was not expected j to exhibit his defence until the whole < case against him was revealed. If a ( precedent was set that evening it followed the House would be absolutely ruined. ( fllr Lyttelton again vainly rose, and the din was renewed. After fully an hour of great disorder, l Ftfr Lowther. under the new rule, sus- < pended the sitting, the Opposition wildly cheering.