REJECTION FORECAST

Chronicle (Levin), 9 June 1948, Page 5

REJECTION FORECAST

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter,

Lords Resurne Debate On Parliament Bill

Copyright)

Received Wednesday,' 10 sa.m. LONDON, June 8. The House of Lords \yas crowded this afternoon for the resumption of the debate on the Parliament Bill, which seeks to reduce from- two years to one the period wherefor the House of Lords can hold up a Bill which the House of Commons passes. The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, the Marquis of Salisbury, mqved the rejection of the Bill, "which would go far to establishing single Chamber Government and thereby deprive the coum try of a vital constitutional safeguard to its liberties." The Lord Chancellor, Lord Jowitt, opening the debatej, claimed that the Government hue a mandate from the elec-tor-q for the measure. He asked whether nine months from the third reading of a Bill in the Commons was not ample. Nothing in the Bill prevented the great wor'k of the Lords from continuing. The Marquis of Salisbury said : "I cannot understand why a Government which expressed its attachment to democracy is so unwilling to consult the people, whose rights and liberties are at stake. If the Government takes away the essendon safeguards of the people's liberties, posterity will not forgive it. This Bill opens the way to enemies within our gates to overthrow the free institutions ! of 'this country. A formidable threat of government by a ruthless doctivnaire of a minority is facing Britain. The vast' majority of the Socialist Party are moderate and sensible men. If they had their way this measure would . never have been introduced, but the more extreme wing controls Government policy." ' Viscount Samuel (Liberal), who was head of the all- party eonference on the House of Lords, said the Conservatives would make a strategic mistake if they rejected the Bill on the second reading. The Lib ei-als , would. voteHor-jthe ;secon-.C ; reading and if it was carried. would offep an amendment em bodying the views of the majority at the eonference. The alternative was a head-dn collision with the Commons. I the Lords passed the amender Bill, the nation, the Dominion and the world would regard i as a great proof of common sense. The House is expected tc vote on the motion tomorrov night. Overwhelming suppori is expected for the Marquis oJ Salisbury's motion vf pejection