"Out You Go."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13644, 11 July 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

"Out You Go."

EXTRAORDINARY SCENES IN. A ' * : PREMIER'S OFFICE- I UNEMPLOYED IN MELBOURNE. j Extraordinary!' scenes >vere .enacted in the Victorian Premier's U'oom on <J6Ui June during. an winch bir Thomas Bent had granted to a deputation which desired ito secure , special consideration :ifor aged, on . infirm, or stow, workers. The matter, was briefly referred, to in a cable mtssage. , Mr.; Prendergast,, M.L.A., . introauced tho deputation, which consisted of Mr. S. Barker, - (secretary to the Trades Council), ilr P. s eagnejr (sectetdi-y to the Political Labour .Council) Messrs, S. J. Murray, F. Barker, and G. Callaway. Shortly after the interview commenced, a voung man of spare build entered the room unannounced, and seated ' himself as if he were a. member, of the deputation. He handed to the : representatives of the press a card,; which bore the name "Mr G. R: Beere," and displayed several documents, : one of which was a cheque. - When the case for the deputation was being stated. ■■ Sir Thomas Bent (holding in his hand' a report of the meeting at .the Trades which had been; addressed .by Mr.. Heagney, amongst others," interjected, "Where is" Heagney and bakers' shops I want to hear something about him." - Mr. Heagney: " I'll tell you all you want to know about t-hem."

Sir Thomas Bepfc: You talk about spending money " placating supporters in the country:" It only shows how ignorant you are. ■ . Mr Heagney : That's a matter of opinion. - .'■■■■ ' . . •: : : Sir Thomas Bent (pointing to the door): \ You can go. •• :. r -■ " ' Mr H-engney : You l ' go round the country scattering money to every shire council. Sir T, Bent (loudly): Out you go i Mr Heagney : I don't loee \anything by going. Sir T. Bent (more loudly) Out you go! Mr Heagney (walking towards the door): As to ignorance, you can't talk. The Premier (also with anger) : You had better clear out-i ■ I'll let you see.

Mr Heagney . left. , ~, , • Ati a latter stage Mr F. Barker, was introduced. -

Sir Thomas Bent, to Barker (who. is slightly- deaf): Are you a slow .worker? •: Mr' Barker (unsuspectingly): Yee, sir. Sir Thomas Bent: You look itMr Pendergast ■ made a remark -in a quiet tone to Sir Thomas Bento • Sir Thomas' Bent: I know him. - Look in this morning's paper. • suppose if a man peppers me I'm /to say nocning.. Mr. Barker: I hope you won't tackle, me with ■ that sort of bluffing. I ask you whether vou will hear me ? Sir Thomas" Bent: It's a matter .for me whether I hear you or not, and I won't hear you. Out you go ! Mr Barker: Very well, sir. (He walked out of the room). ,■ v . - Mr Beere asked whether he might; speak on behalf of those who were noil • registered in the Trades Hall. ' Mr S. Barker: No. 1 Mr : Beere: I appear on: behalf of- 500 men who are not on the Trades Hall, register. ■/.' '' ■. , Sir Thomas Bent : Do you mean that there are 1000 men—so0 # registered .with you and 500 tho Trades Hall? Mr Beere: Yes, 1002, I believe. Sir Thomas Bent-: Then,, let .me tell -you I don!t believe it. : Who and what, are you? ... ■ Mr Beere : I am here to see. about the American fleet decorations. We start tomorrow. I have .just.. seen the ActingLord Mayor. x , ■ Sir Thomas Bent :; Very well. I refer vou to the Acting-Lord .Mayor. I will have nothing to ,do it. The- Lord Mayor has lots of money. He gets. £250,000 a year. . ■ • Mr Beere: It is stated.that men cannot, get work. - - - Sir Thomas Bent: Can't you get men? Mr Beere: They have to ask Heagney first, v.

Mr Pendergasfc: You're a liar., Mr Beere: You're a liar. r Mr Pendergast walked: to the other side of: the table;' where'Beere was standing, arid said, " I'll smack'you on the . face if you call me a liar.'' ; He stood sideways to Mr Beere, and, lifting his left hand twice, was. on tlhe point apparently, of slapping him with the back of. his hand, but each "time-lie appeared to. restt&in himself by an effort.

Then Messrs S. Barker, Pendergast and Beere all talked excitedly at the same time, with the Premier making a remark now and again. Mr S. Barker, told .'.Mr Bee re he was "simply barracking _fpr his own barrow," and Mr Beer© retorted, "You're a great judge. You hive been living on that for years." Sir Thomas Bent (soothingly): " No\V7 now. I'll have to be sending for Slay in or Burns." i '

Mr Pendergast (with a sneer): Properly named Beere. Mr Beere: : Oh,' you go to ' • Mr Pendergast.,'- at this 'taunt; rueiKed round' behind the Premier, but Mr Beere beat a hasty retreat. As fast as Mr Pendergast' gob to' one side, so speedy was .Mr Beere in getting to the -other; . " See how lie runs, see- how game rhe Mr Pendergast'ejaculated, breathless" fr6in * the unusual exercise; but Mr'' .Beere sprinted on, evidently determined; not ;td permit hie excited pursuer to coipe closer quarters. ' Then Sir Thomas Bent, after Mr fieere . had passed him for about the foutt.lv lap, pushed back his, chair, and blocked the Way in front of Mr Pendergast. Mr Beere. was by this -iune at-the, otiher-end of the room, .15 or* JjjS feet away from -Mr Pendergast. , Jle grabbed his hat, which. was the 'door, and established a record' in .get; ting- out of the room ■ and - ofif. the'. "pre> mises. After- further discussion, the- Premier <■ said, he would take the requests l of • .thedeputation to the Cabinet and see -what; could be done. Later on of the deputation returned to. the Tr&dfes Hall and reported progress to some' 300 of the unemployed'. ' Mr Heagney stud ha considered thfCt he could not be Of-' any further use to the unemployed, sance,4ihe Premier had .' apersonal objection 'to- 'receiving him, and, therefore, he th.oj&gl)t it " ; prpper thathe . should give way'- tcjisomeone else by tendering his-resignation as, phe. of the joint secretaries to-the : ,nn-■ employed committee.' , ife. considered-the ' Premier to be tlie."crosscßt b<?or'• thathajd: , ever.' occupied .such, a position. - JELe was the stupidest and, most, uncouth- being th\b had. got such, aposition, : -and!' he >• (Mij • Hepghey) would refuse, ever.- to'': spe&k civilly; to'him again. (Applause)L- . v-.