THE LORDS' VETO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 780, 1 April 1910, Page 5

THE LORDS' VETO.

INTEREST IN THE DEBATE FLAGS, AN AMENDMENT. By TeleeraDh—Press Association—Copyright London, March 30. The House of Commons continued the debate on Mr. Asquith's motion:— "That this House resolve itself into a committee to consider the relations of the two Houses and the duration of Parliament." Interest in the debato has flagged. There were many absentees, and tho Peers' Gallery. was, empty. Mr. I{. C. Munrc-Fergusson (Liberal member for Loith Burghs) expressed the Moderate Liberal views, namely, that reform of tho Second Chamber should precede definition of its powers. Mr. G.. N. Barnes (Labour member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow) urged the abolition of the House of Lords. Mr. F. E. Smith (Unionist) in a racy speech, twitted, Mr. Asquith with omitting explanations as to proposed reform. It was. everybody's knowledge that those who kept the Government in office were not committed to the reform of the Lords. Not 30 per cent, of the coalition mombers intended to go to their constituents in May or June and ask for a mandate for reform of the Lords. ' Mr. J. A. Simon (Liberal) said the Unionists would welcome an attempt to combine the matter of complicated reforms with the simpler proposal of the limitation of the veto, but if the Government adopted the simpler method it would havo a united party behind it. Sir Robert Finlay, Unionist member for Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities, and formerly Attorney-General in tho Balfour Government, has giveiK.notice. to move from the Front Opposition Bench the following amendment to Mr. Asquith's resolutions:— "That this House regards a 6trong, efficient Second Chamber .as necessary, and is willing to consider proposals for reform, but . declines proposals for destroying the usefulness of any Second Chamber, however constituted, . and removing the only safeguard against great changes being made by the Government of. the day, not only without the consent, but against the wishes of a majori'fo' of the electors." The Whips have .arranged that this amendment shall be moved ■ to-morrow, and that a division shall take place on Monday next. Thirty, amendments are to be proposed to the veto resolutions. ; PRESS OPINIONS. London, March 30. The "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal) agrees with Mr. Redmond (Leader of the Irish Nationalists) that when the Lords reject the Prime Minister's resolutions, Mr. Astinith should secure the King's promise to use the Royal prerogative, and should then dissolve. The "Chronicle" disagrees with Mr. Redmond's idea that no other measure should delay dissolution, and urges that it is absurd to fight the Lords by dropping tho Budget which precipitated the crisis. The "Graphic" says: "Mr. Asquith has not indicated, as he promised,to do, proposals of reform, but has simply attacked the House of Lords as constituted." Several newspapers comment on the lack of enthusiasm shown during the debate on tho veto resolutions, : Mr. Storey (Unionist) urges that preference sliould be given to social reforms. The "Standard" declares that the ex'tremists are dissatisfied with Mr. Asquith's idea of reforming the.House o! Lords. • " : ■'..' '■". '" !"' . The Moderates urge the amalgamation of tho reform issue with the limitation of the veto.