THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1907, Page 5

THE HOUSE OF LORDS

■ PREMIER'S ANNOUNCEMENT, j TERMS OF THE BILL. IMPORTANT COXSULTATTON CLAUSE. (By Cable.—Pres3 Association.—CopjrlghU LONDON, June 25. Outside of the party newspapers little interest is being taken in the debate upon the House of Lords reform question. Nineteen amendments to the Government's resolutions have been tabled. Captain M. Kincaid-Smith (Liberal) has moved a moderate amendment, which Liberals generaDy approve. It declares that reform is desirable, but that the House of Commons ought not to possess uncontrolled power over legislation. The Irish Kationalists have not moved any amendment.

An unexpected feature of the debate yesterday was Sir H. Campbell-Banner-man's announcement towards the close of his opening speech, giving in effect the purport of the Bill which the Government is to introduce at a moment to be selected at their discretion, with a view to ultimately giving statutory form to their policy towards the House of Lords. He said the moving of the resolution at that moment was opportune, as no conflict with the House of Lords was going on. He quoted resolutions passed in 187S and 1860, and contended that the House of Commons alone was an authoritative reflex oi the people's wiU. The Prime Minister ridiculed a non-elected House presuming to express the country's mind whenever the country lapsed into Liberalism. He accused Mr. Balfour of treachery in December, in calling upon the Lords to override the House of Commons on the education question. (Prolonged Ministerial cheers.) The Constitution knew nothing of the doctrine of a special mandate. This was the invention of the Lords, designed to shelter them when rejecting bills. Their claim to force a dissolution wag the usurpation of the Royal prerogative.

The Premier added that his ultimate bill would provide that in the event of disagreement on any given bill the two Houses should appoint an equal number of members to confer; if the conference was unproductive, a similar or a modified bill should be introduced after six months, unless in cases oi emergency, and passed. It would then be sent to the Lords, and in the event of disagreement there would be another conference. If this conference failed the bill would be reintroduced and passed swiftly and sent to the Lords a third time, with an intimation that unless it were accepted it would be passed over their heads. (Loud Ministerial cheers.) He proposed to prevent arbitrary action by an effete Government by means of quinquennial Parliaments,