LORDS ON TRIAL

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 677, 30 November 1909, Page 7

LORDS ON TRIAL

__ »— REFORM NEEDED. , - UNIONISTS URGED TO TAKE/IT UP. BETTER REPRESENTATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—CoprrlEht.) (Eec. November 29, 11.55 p.m.) London, Novombor 29. "The Times" admits that tho House of Lords can be improved, and hopes that it will be. Apart from the obvious weakness of the hereditary principle, it is too large. '■"•; Lord Eosebery's Committee, continues "The Times," has recommended one way of meeting this. . Moreover, though in many respects the present House is thoroughly representative, thero are important eloments in the' national life—such .as the self-governing. Dominions, Labour, and Nonconformity— which are represented insufficiently, or are not represented at all.: "The Times" adds: "The Unionists will do a wise and politicothing, which will be appreciated: by the country, if they tats up the reform of the Houso of' Lords in earnest." \ .. . rosebery committee's reform ' ..-■;-■ -scheme. •■ . .:;. ; Some of the main points of the report and recommendations;of Lord Rosebery's Committee o£ Peers are as under :—.'•■ ' '_■■'■: If tho report's recommendations are carried out, the House of Lords will consist of: Peers of the blood royal ...-...„ 3 Peers elected by hereditary Peers 200 Peers qualified by public service ....;. 130 Two Archbishops and. 8 elected bishops 10 Lords of Appeal (judges).; 5 . Life Peers, i por,annum, with mari- ; . mum of 40 at. any one time ......... .40 ;■- ■.' ;.',.-. Total ..........™........._M..: 3SB\ The voting strength of the House of Lords at present is about 620. : . --■-■■• "Lords of Parliament" is to be the title of those who sit andivota in the House of Lords. Elected Peers.' ... • . . .': ; Exclusive of the royal Pears and the bishops there are 592 hereditary Peers.: Some of these find parliamentary work, irksome, and others should not be entrusted witli.it. ThesOvwill elect 200 of tijeir number to sit for a Parliament only. ■ i';' ■ It is unnecessary' 1 to .'arrangements for representation d.ixirish and Scottish Peers. .'.. ■"■ ■-. ■ :" : -\ '.' ' . ."".• -.' ■ Every hereditary Peer will"'have. 200 votes,, and he may give as many votes as he likes to one candidato. i, -._ . , . Official representatives of Canada,, Australia, New Zealand,.and. South Africa during, their I tenure of office would be ol great advantage; .'; The-..views of the Colonial Governments should bo asked on how to carry this arrangement out. ■' V- ■.;' V- ..'..'■ . ..'.....-': Qualified Peers. . '-. '■' , , -•! ■Besides, the elected, Peers,' any Peer will be qualified to 6it and vote who is or has been:—I.' Cabinet ' Minister, . Viceroy, or GovernoiGeneral. ; . ■ : . "•■'.■'.'. . . :■ • : . ..-. 2. Ambassador,., head of . Government Depart: ment, or Governor of Certain, Colonies, etc., ■ ivith'. four'.' years' such service' or '■;■ twenty-five years' Civil Service.. ■ ,■-•:.'••■. -..' 3. Speaker. ■• : , . , .':.. 4; Vice-Admiral or Lieutenant-General (active).. 5. Judge of Appeal, Attorney-General, Solicitor- ' General, or Lord Advocate. : .'•.'■.■.■•;'. 6. Lord Great. Chamberlain, Earl Marshal, ■'. ' Chairman of Committees, political Undersecretary, or holder.-of;. political or Court ; office vacated by .change of Government. • 7. M.P. for ten years' on succeeding to here- . ditary. peerage. ,■-.- , : ' -.'_: ... ■■ , !'i ■ 8. M.P. for twenty years on being created hefe- .. ditary or life Peer. ' :. /■/:.'

MONEY DIFFICULTIES CAUSED Bγ ' ■- BLOCKING.OF BUDGET. " \ GOVERNMENT WILt NOT COMPROMISE .■.■■■;.• [■[':: WITffLORDa •-.;; . -\. '[ .:■_ . .;. . ■ '■'■..' London, Novcmbor 28. . Tho.'TJaily Chronicle".'(a Liberal organ) says tho Government will under no circumstances accept the Lords' offer of co-operation with the object ; of romoving 'difficulties' l duo'-to the ■ violent - ljroak .in- Constitutional jus'ago. , ;'' ;.;:., ■'.- .The "Pall Mall, Gazotte','/ (Unionist), com-' .menting on this statement, says'tho action of tho . Government is not statesmanship, bnt merely vindictive' stupidity. .'; ''•■;,":' .:■,.;. '■ NO PORTSMOUTH BY-ELECTION. : ADMIRAL BBRESFOED SCORNFUL. ■'.:■■■:■'. ■ .';■■.■..'; London, November .28. ; '. Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, speaking at Portsmouth, .accusod tho liberals ,of '.'fiink'-. because they had determined niter all not- to issue a writ for. a by-election in: that: con- r .stitiiency. '■•.'.'.■'■" : '." . : •■' , : '.:■''■.,■'■■■:' The Admiral declared that they had :a-white-feathered Government, which , was afraid 'to test thewill of tho people.' .- ' ' '■ '"• ■ '.. A LIBERAt ■• DEMONSTEATION./ ' ; .'■ ' , '; ■'■':'■■•- London, November 28. The Liberals are- ; arranging a groat demonstration in the Albert Hall on December 10, similar to that, convened by. the ' late ■ Sir h! ■ Campbell-Bannorman before .the present 1 Government cameinto power. , ~.' ... : . -■ 7 -. 'ii Lab m" parlT ' 3 campaign will open at the Free Trade.Hall, Manchester, on Decemher 17. .■■■■■ \' • ■."■.;■ '; ■ . ■•■ , :. ■-■ , v