BRITISH POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 792, 15 April 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

MR. BALFOUR ON- ELECTED UPPER HOUSES.

'.;'■ AND THE REFERENDUM. By Teleirraph-Preea ABSociation-Copyrleht

(Eec. April 15, 0.5 a.m.)

London, April U.. Presiding at' a luncheon given by the United.'. Club, tho Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Balfour)- said that th'i Parliamentary situation was unparalleled. There had been no King's Speech in the sense of a speech announcing l the Government's legislative policy, which had been'carefully withheld, from the House of Commons, and had only now been blurted out by Mr. Churchill, Home Sec: , retary. The only attempt at a King's Speech was offered by Mr % Churchill on Tuesday night, when he sketched a long series of minor constitutional resolutions, . the offspring of the greater one that he and his friends would endeavour to carry. All talk abont social reform on the part of the present Government'was a gross imposture. >

Mr. Balfour incidentally mentioned that he had not rejected the idea of a referendum. He declared that the Conserva: tyves favoured the introduction into the House; of Lords of an elected element drawn from the people, but it would be folly to make the Second Chamber wholly elective, for he did not desire to destroy the undisputed supremacy of the House of Commons, . . REFORM OF THE LORDS, A LETTER SIR EDWAED GREY. (Rec. April i 4, 11.5 p.m.) London, April 14. Sir Edward • Grey, Secretary for eign.Affairs, and M.P,,fpr Berwick division .'of Northumberland,, in a letter to the Berwick Liberal Association, states that,' though supporting ' the resolution dealing withi the Bpuse of Lords' yeto (now; under.discussion in. the Hpuse of Commons) as one-means of overcoming resistance, he does not consider it a final settlement He emphasises.that the : Government's full ppjicy is that expresserf in the Spcpph. If again chaoses him as its candidate, he, will djract attention to tho Second Chamber's constitution 'and pqwets. He hopes that the Budget"will be.passed Yfith all its taxes except sijch alterations'es may be necessary owiiig to, the delay'that has, occurred. •.-.'..■ .■ [Sir Edward Grey and Mr. Haldarie are credited with , forming ivithin the Cabinet a section that supports reform of the House : of Lords rather than a drastio shearing of. its powers.] IRISH AND LIBERALS. V MR. O'BRIEN V. MR. LLOYD-.-'-]-:\x ■• . ' GEORGE. .. ' '.;>- . ; , London, April 13. The opinion is hardening that' Mr. Redmond, Leader of .the Irish Nationalist party, does not intend to seriously embarrass the Government in connection with, Monday's guillotine tnotjon with respect to the Budget. , • . '' Ow'ing to the veto debate, the. promised statement by Mr. William.O'Brien; Leader of tho Independent Irish party, : with reference to jnterviewa between, himself, Mr. Lloyd-George, and Mr. Healy, has been postponed'until Monday next. .'