PRESS OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 976, 17 November 1910, Page 5

PRESS OPINIONS.

'AWKWARD QUESTIONS. London, November 15. "The Times" says:—"Abandonment of the business of the session has some ob--5 vious advantages for the Government was confronted with awkward questions like tho taxation of Irish whisky, women's suffrage, and tho Osborne judgment. It, however, deprives tho country of the chance of considering alternative reforms . which the House of Lords havo been elaborating. "Unequalled Sinco Cromwell." I Tho "Pall Mall Gazette" (Unionist) alleges that Mr. Asquith has flung nil his ;. pledges to Parliament to tho winds and tho country is to bo plunged into tho turmoil of an election that has not been provoked by an adverso vote. "If this ' programme is executed it will bo an outrageous violation of the privileges of. Par- ' liament unequalled sinco Cromwell . in- ' vadeel tho Houso of Commons. Mr. Churchill, with characteristic impetuos--0 ifcy and unscrupulousness, has determined, with his letter to his constituents, to get ia tho first blow." Compelled to Dissolve. Tho "Westminster Gazette" says: "Tho Government has been compelled to dissolve Parliament becauso tho Lords and tho Unionists decline to admit that tho country decided at last election on more than tho compulsory passing of tho Budget." A Dramatic Stroke. The "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal) remarks:—"Before the elections begin guarantees will have been asked and given that tho will of tho people," as declared at the polls, shall prevail. An immediate dissolution will bo a bold, dramatic stroke such as the democracy loves. 0 It will prevent tho total obstruction of u the real issue,- avoid Parliamentary em--1 barrassments, and ho welcomed by trades- >- men and commercial people, who dread l- a prolongation of tho present political it unrest." i- Elections on ono Day. 0 • Tho "Daily News" urges tho passing of single clause Bills fixing the elections f for one day and bringing tho new regisr tor into operation on "December 1. 0 Tho "Manchester Guardian" (Liberal), in an article insisting on the need for the E elections being, held on : ono day, says it considers tho Lords are mutineers de--1 cliiiing to obey the country's decisive ■" victory in January last. 6 Several papers, including "The Times," 0 support concentrating tho battle on the Constitutional issue. 3 ' , t ; : 0 THE VETO RESOLUTIONS. . The Veto Resolutions referred to in the above cablegrams aro as' follow:— (1) It is expediont that the House of Lords should bo disabled by law from rejecting or amending' Money Bills. These are defined as follow: , —Bills which the Speaker considers to contain only provisions dealing with tho imposition, repeal, remission, alteration, or regulation of taxation; also charges on tho Consolidated Fund, or the provij sion of. money by Parliament; also the supply and appropriation, con- , trol, or regulation of public money; ' also the raising, guaranteeing,- or repayment. of loans,- or matters in--3 cidental to these subjects. . (2) It is expedient that tlio powers of the Houso of Lords'respecting Bills other than Money Bills be legally ■ restricted so that when a; Bill has : passed tho House of Commons three successive . sessions, and has been sent to tho House of Lords at least a month beforo the end of the session, and rejected in each of the three'sessions,' it shall become law without . the consent of tho 1 House of Lords, upon the Royal Assent being given, provided that at • ' least two years shall elapse between - ... , the first' introduction tft the House l of Commons and - tho date when it 3 passes the Houso of Commons ' for 3 the third time. ' Bills shall bo" treated as rejected if not passed by tho House of Lords ' ' without' amendment, or with only 1 '■ amendments agreed to by both j Houses.' . ' 2 ' (3) Tho third resolution limits the duration of Parliament to five years. | LORD ROSEBERY'S RESOLUTIONS. ' Lord Rosebory's Tesolutions.'for tho' rc--5 form of tho Houso of Lords are as fol--3 low;' j (1) That a..strong :and efficient Second , Chamber, an integral part of the ~ Constitution, is necessary for : the well-being of the Stato and tho balance of- Parliament. , (2) That such a Chamber can best be j obtained by tho reform and reconstruction of tho House of Lords. .(3) That a necessary preliminary to such reconstruction is tho acceptance of tho principle that the possession of a peerage no longer of itself gives 'tho right to sit and • vote in the Houso of Lords. (4)" That in futuro the House of Lords shall consist of Lords of Parliament; (a) chosen by tho whcVi body of hereditary peers ■ among themselves; (b) nominated by the <■ Crown; (c) sitting by virtue of offices and qualifications; and (d) : chosen from' outside. (5) Tho term of tenure of all shall bo the same, except in the case of those sitting ex-officio, who shall sit I so long as they 1 hofd the office, wherefor they sit.