ANGRY LABOUR MEMBERS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17015, 13 April 1923, Page 5

ANGRY LABOUR MEMBERS

DISORDERS IN COMMONS. By Telesrraph—Preen Association —uopyrlcchi Australian and N.Z. Cable Aaeooiatioj*. LONDON, April 11. When Mr Stanley Baldwin, Chancellor of the Exchequer, moved that the House should go into Committee of Supply, in order to overcome last night’s difficulty, Air George Lansbury (Labour) demanded that before agreeing to the motion the House should get a satisfactory assurance regarding ex-Service men. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, leader of the Opposition, asked for the Speaker’s ruling as to whether the proposal to go into Committee of Supply was not the same motion on which the gave a definite decision last night. .The Speaker disagreed with the contention that the motion was a repetition, holding that the word “ now ” in the motion : “ That the Speaker now leave the chair,” made the motion apply to that particular day. GOVERNMENT DEFEAT. Mr Stanley Baldwin then moved : “ That the House to-morrow resolve itself into Committee of Supply.” He said that what ieally happened was that the Government was caught napping. Last night’s decision was no p_roof that the Government had lost the confidence of the House. Mr Ramsay MacDonald said th 3 Government last nigh£~had suffered an unexampled defeat. It was defeated because several Government supporters had voted against it. Mr H. B. Lees Smith (Labour, Keighley) said that the Labour Party, in the interests of ex-Service men, was not pressing its tactical advantage. AN ANGRY ROAR. Sir Frederick Banbury (Conservative, City of London), on rising apparently on a. point, of order, was greeted with a prolonged and ang.y roar from the Labour benches, and resumed his seat amidst ironical tffug.iter. Mr Lees-Smith claimed that the Labour members were behaving with great restraint. Jeering remarks from Conservatives provoked fierce retorts from the Labourites. After Mr George Lansbury had insisted that the Government should give satisfactory assurance regarding e~.Service men before the House consented to go into Committee of Supply again, several Labourites rose to continue the debate. LABOUR DEMONSTRATION. Then Mr Stanley Baldwin moved the closure, and this was the signal for -a tumultuous Labour demonstration, loud cries of “Adjourn!” being fol lowed up by the singing of the “ Red Flag ” The Speaker appealed to the Labourites to follow- the principles of their leader, whereupon the Labourites renewed the uproar, and the Speaker declared the motion carried. Mr Will Thorne (Labour) asked the Speaker to adjourn the sitting for a time, in view of the excitement, but the Speaker replied that it would Re a bad precedent to adjourn because oi disorder. Mr Thorne: “ You cannot- get ori with the business!” Mr E. G. Pretyman (Conservati si) rose and opened the next business, but the Labourites began singing, with mechanical repetitions of “Sit down!” and “Speak up!” For three minutes Mr Pretyman stood without being heard. Mr Ramsay MacDonald for a moment stilled the uproar, but it broiic out again, Mr Will Thorne shouting to th© Speaker: “ You may as well adjourn.” and other Labourites shouting across the Chamber, “ You dirty dogs!” The Speaker rose, and amidst a turmoil, suspended the sitting for an hour, the announcement being received with exultant Labour cries. EXCITING INCIDENT. As the members were quitting the Chamber, an exciting incident occurred. A group of Labourites suddenly dashed across the Chamber near the Speaker’s chair, and confronted n knot of Ministerialists, including Mr W. G. A. Ormsby-Gore, Under-^ecr 3 - tary for the Colonies. Suddenly a fist shot out close to Mr Ormsby-Gore\s bead, and he put up his arms to ward of? a blow. Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Mr Baldwin endeavoured to intervene, and a scuffle followed in the lobbies, from whence angry cries were heard, but the sequel was lost to the Press Gallery. THE HOUSE ADJOURNS. When the House resumed at seven o'clock the chamber was crowded. The Speaker immediately rose and said: “In view of the grave, disorders in the House, by virtue of my powers under the Standing Orders, l adjourn the House.” Without the question being put, the Speaker left the chair, and members left the Chamber without further disorder.