GREAT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 983, 25 November 1910, Page 5

GREAT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

REFORM PROPOSALS DISCUSSED. THE REFERENDUM. PROTESTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT METHODS. "STARTLING NOVELTIES." By Teleeraph—Press Association— Conyrijlit. (Rec. November 24, 0.30 p.m.) London, November 24. 11l tho House of Lords to-day the debate was opened on the following resolutions moved by Lord Lansdowne:— That in tho aso cof differences arising over Bills other than money Bills, a joint sitting shall be held of tho House 1 of Commons and the House of Lords, which shall be reconstituted and reduced in numbers in accordance with tho House of Lords' recent resolutions, but that in a' matter of great gravity the Bill in. dispute shall be submitted to a referendum of tho country. That the Houso of Lords shall fore- . go tho right to reject or amend purely money Bills, but that the question of "tagging" shall be settled by a Joint Committee of both Houses, and if the committee decided that tho measure in disputo was not of a purely 1 financial nature, then the Bill (or the provisions in. it considered not to* be purely financial) shall be dealt with forthwith at a joint sit-, ling of the-Houses. Rational and Reasonable. Lord Lansdowne said tho idea of a joint sitting was Eminently rational and reasonable, and preferable to one Houso putting its foot down on tho other, and keeping it there. It was desirablo that the referendum should be used, besides in cases of -grave difference, as a check on legislation. Even .when the; two : Houses were agreed it was sometimes essential that the country should declare its voice without the trouble and ex-.| penso of an election. One difficulty ro : lated to representation at joint sittings. Tho resolutions were so drafted as to leave that open for future consideration. Lord Crewe described the resolutions as startling novelties. The referendum was now the favourite child, of the Lords. It would be difficult and costly. Tho tariff ought to be the first question to be submitted to tho referendum, but it seems that only Liberal measures' wero ti bo subject to it. Lord Weardalo vigorously protested against tho Government's policy. Sucli momentous changes in tho Constitution should, havo been fully debated in both Houses. Tho Liberals' strong caso would tlien have been reflected throughout the country, and thny might arrive at a settlement satisfactory to. all parties. (Opposition cheers.) The country should not bo hustled. If Lord Crewe and his other colleagues, allowed the Parliament Bill to b3. regarded as an unchangeable ultimatum they would throw thousands of electors into tho ranks of the Opposition. Home Rule and the Referendum. . [ Lord-Weardalo went oil to say that ho always favoured a referendum. It was neither so difficult nor . so expensive as was represented., The, cost w;ould,pot exceed a quarter of -a million. It was. sometimes ?aid a 'referendum would \ never carry Homo Rule. Ho was a. life-long Homo Ruler, but ho believed with Jlr. Gladstone that Homo Rulo could bo obtained only by convincing tho people of. its -necessity and justice, and not by irregular methods and- force. (Cheers.) Had proper methods been, pursued, tho country would'have seen Homo :Rule carried in a way satisfactory to everybody. Ho appealed to tho Government to take tho referendum into its consideration. He believed tho people themselves,, when they examined tho matter, would: conclude that'it was tho most democratic,' tho wisest, and tho easiest solution to refor grave disputes to the judgment of' the people. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Davidson) said he considered tho issue' was being forced too hastily.Lord Ribblesdalo said he preferred the resolutions to tho Bill. " ■ Lord St. Aldwyn approved of a. wellconsidered referendum.' The debate was then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS, PROROGATION AND DiSSOLUTION. London, November 24. Tho Budget was read a third time in the House of Commons, without division. Tho prorogation and dissolution will take place on Monday. CITY OF LONDON. THE UNIONIST CANDIDATES. STIRRING APPEAL BY MR, BALFOUR. (Rec. November 25, 1.20 a.m.) London, November 24. Mr. Balfour' and Sir F. G. Bambury wero to-day again adopted as the Unionist candidates lor tho City of London, amid tho greatest enthusiasm. Lord Aldenham (tho chairman) predicted that in tho event of a fight tho Unionist candidates would be returned by sucli a majority as the world had, never seen. Mr. Balfour made a stirring appeal to all moderate men to follow tho example of the city. They should not allow all that was best in Conservatism, Unionism,' and Liberalism to be shattered and destroyed. Ho was proud to call himself a democrat, and a democrat's duty was to tell the truth to the people—(cheers)— and to' submit tho real elements of tho problom calmly and reasonably. After denouncing attempts to inilamo citizens, Mr. Balfour said that tho Redmonites, in language of unsurpassed,insolence, had made tho Radicals toe the 'line, and now exuberantly declared an allianco with them. THE IRISH LEAGUE. SPEECH BY MR. DILLON. - (Rcc. November 24, 10.10 p.m.) London, November 24. Mr. Dillon, speaking at an Irish Lcagyo demonstration at Bermondsoy, stated that since tho Act of Union was passed tho causo of liberty in Ireland and that of tho liberty of tho democracy in England were indissolubly bound together. The Liberals havo been pinned to a square issue. Mr. Dillon " proceeded: "Tho Liberals are so bound to us (hat we must sink or swim together." A NEW MANIFESTO. , London, November 23. The Irish League has issued a manifesto, which attacks Lord Lansdowno and other Lords in connection with their relations. with Ireland. It- recalls Jlr. Asquith's Albert Hall statement that tho Liberal Party's jjolicy was lull of self-

government for Ireland, and adds:— "Victory at this election will be a final, dccisivo victory for Homo Rule." THE "TOE-THE-LINE" GOVERNMENT. VIGOROUS SPEECH BY ME. F. E. SMITH. (Rec. November 25, 0.10 a.m.) London, Novcmbcv 24. Jlr. F. E. Smith (Unionist), speaking at Highbury, said if the present "toe-the--1 i 110" Government were returned, the electors would never have another cbanco of pronouncing on Home Rule. Ho appealed to the people -to sweep away -the crew of depredators, and Socialist traitors who alone to-day supported the Government in .England. MR. BALFOUR AND MR. LLOYDGEORGE. "A TRAITOR TO' DEMOCRACY." London, November 23. The. Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A. J. Balfour, speaking beforo the City of London Conservative Association, said:— "When a ltlan makes a speech setting the citizens against each other, ho is no democrat, but a traitor to democracy." He added that tho Irish Party had thrown in its lot with the Radicals. That was the very essence of tho present situation—tho knot of tho„ whole problom. The House of Lords was to be destroyed because a section of tho electors wanted Homo Eule. WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS IN THE ' .PATH. (Rec. November 24, 10.15 p.m.) London, November 24. Mr. Lloyd-George, speaking at St. Pancras, asked if Mr. Balfour, in calling liimfeelf a Democrat, would explain why | he and Lord Lansdownc wero placing hurdles, ditches, and wire entanglements in the path of Government by which the people must travel. Tho referendum meant that a, party which was backed by wealth - and vested . interests could crush the democracy by sheer weight of gold.' For tho leisured man voting was a recreation, but it was otherwise for the workman. The Liberals had none of Lord Lansdowne's devices. Mr. Lloyd-George I demanded equal treatment not merely I between parties, but between ideas of Government. ' Mr. Lloyd-Georgo said Germany was tired of tho tariff reform.. It had swallowed Socialism, and felt the bad effects. Lord Lansdowno was endeavouring to keep tlie democracy at tho end of a long polo to prevent it biting. . RIVAL IRISH FACTIONS. MR, O'BRIEN AT . CORK. (Rec. November 25, 1.20 a.m.) .London, November 24. Mr. O'Brien, at Cork,, said tho country had been plunged into an election, because the lledmondites know that Ireland was slipping from them. Cork, would deliver tho first blow, and tho monsters of "Molly. Maguirism," placehunting, and sectarian strife, .. would never raise their head again in the .south' of Ireland. ' . Mr. William Redmond will oppose Mr. O'Brien for the Cork seat. LABOUR-LIBERAL SPLIT. TROUBLE IN GLASGOW. (Rec. November 25, 1.15 a.m.) London, November 24.' O.wing to tho introduction of a Labour candidate for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow, the Liberals of the Blackfriars Division threaten to opposo Mr. Barnes, Chairman of tho Labour party, wljo holds'tho seat.'' Tho Balfour party threaten tliat in the event of a contest, they will contest seven of tho Glasgow divisions. APPEAL TO MODERATE MEN. GOVERNMENT'S ■. "DANGEROUS POLICY."- . (Rec. November 24, 10.10 p.m;) London, November-24. ■ Lords , Cromer, George Hamilton, iGoschen, Robert Cecil, Hugh Cecil, Balfour of Burleigh, and Avebury, on behalf of . tho Constitutional Free-trado Association, appeal to all moderate men, in view ,of the threatened Singlo Chamber Constitution, to throw tho weight of their influence against tho Government's dangerous policy- by supporting Unionist candidate in every constituency. POISONED POLITICS. MR. CHURCHILL'S APPEAL. (Rec. November 24, 0.10 a.m.) . London, November 24. Mr. Winston Churchill,- Home Secretary, in a letter to his constituents, said none can persuade .the Tory, party to surrender, the veto, which had poisoned politics, perverted tlie social balance, and handspiked tho Constitution. The opportunity of ending the oppression of tho veto was:within tho grasp of the electorate, and he v.'as sure they would not fail. THE PORTSMOUTH SEAT, LORD CHARLES BERESFORD'S OPPONENT. London, November 23. . Mr. E. G. Hemruerde, Liberal H.P. for Brorafield, Derbyshire East, will opposo Lord Charles Beresford, Unionist member for Portsmouth. THE OSBORNE JUDGMENTSOCIALISTS SATISFIED. London, November 23. The Socialist section of tho Labour Party which follows Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P. for Merthyr-Tydvil, and which at first insisted on complete repeal of the Osborne judgment, are satisfied with Mr. Asquith's announcement. Members representing mining constituencies are also satisfied. WILLING TO COMPROMISE. London, November 23. The statement is made that the Labour Party's Joint_ Board is agreeable tc a compromise regarding tho question of trades union funds. LIBERALS SYMPATHETIC.. London, November 23. Tho "Daily-News" (Liberal) says:— "Though tho principle of Mr. Asquith's policy is clear, its actual value as a solution of the problem is largely dependent on tho way in which it is applied. Many and various solutionsadequate and inadequate—might be fixed within Mr. Asquith's framework of principle, but it will bo in the power of the Labour Party to secure details, which will bo what it is entitled to expect. Tho party can count on the sympathy of all good Liberals." FISCAL DIFFERENCES. MUST BE OBLITERATED. Loudon, November 23. Lord George Hamilton, formerly Secretary for India in tho last Unionist Administration, speaking at Acton, said he, like Lord Cromer and others, felt that they must obliterate all fiscal differences, and throw their whole energy against the forces of unrest, disquietude, and revolution.