ITALY'S HOUSE OF LORDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1014, 2 January 1911, Page 6

ITALY'S HOUSE OF LORDS.

, A REFORM SCHEME. - While the House of Lords question is onco more occupying public attention in England, the Senatorial Commission for the Reform of tho Italian Senate has presented : its report, drawn up by Senator Arcoleo. The object of the proposed reform (says the Rome correspondent of tho "Morning Post") ■is not to diminish but to increaso tho authority, representative nature, and jurisdiction of the Second Chamber, and the'report therefore suggests the limitation of the number of officials created Senators, w'lio tend to giv t o it too bureaucratic a character, and the application of a" limited system of election in. certain cases. At''present all Seaators, except the Royal Princes, are nominated by tho Crown for life from. a certain number of categories; but it is proposed that henceforth men of science or of letters should be elected, subject, to the Royal consent, by the various learned Academies, moil of wealth by Chambers of Commerce, and . politicians by municipal or county, councils.

It is further considered expedient that tho number of Senators—which is at present theoretically unlimited, hut which has fallen owing to deaths to 383, inclusive of tile six Iloyal Princes now of age —should be fixed. As, however. the formation of tho Senate is regulated by the Italian Constitution of 1848,' it will be necessary to amend Article ,33 of that document before these changes can becomo law. The Senato specially insists upon its equal Tights witl) the Chamber, and depre'cates the growing practice of "tacking" financial proposals on to ordinary measures with the object of preventing the' Senate from, taking. aiiy initiative in'that'class of The Senate ' already .may, but has ; never in nractico actually decided to, reject a Budget, j . Particulars of a stock sale, to bo held by Messrs. Abraham and Williams at Johnsonville, on Wednesday, January 4, are advertised in this issue. ■Messrs. 11. F. M'Neill and Co., Featherston Street, advertise in this issue two good farms for sale. A stock salo will bo held at Lovin on Friday, January 6, by Messrs. Dalgety and Co., and the .New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company.