THE VETO BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 5

THE VETO BILL.

ANOTHER STAGE REACHED. BILL THROUGH COMMITTEE IN THE COMMONS, LABOUR PROPOSAL DEFEATED By TctoErapli—Press Association—Oopyiieht London, May 4. The Parliament Bill was finally passed through its Committee stage in tho House of Commons to-day, and reported for its third reading. Mr. G. N. Barnes, Labour member for the Blackfrinrs Division of Glasgow, moved tho injection of tho preamble to tho Parliament Bill, which reads:— "Whereas it is expedient that provision should ho made for regulating the regulations between tho two Houses of Parliament. And whereas it is intended to substitute for the House of Lords as it at present exists a Second Chamber constituted on a popular instead of hereditary basis, but such substitution cannot bo immediately brought into operation. And whereas provision will require- hereafter to bo made by Parliament in a measure effecting such substitution for limiting and defining tho powers of tho new Second Chamber, but it is expedient to make such provision as in this Act appears for restricting the existing power of tho House of Lords." Mr. Barnes said that tho elected Second Chambers of tho British dependencies had proved more obstructive than tho hereditary Second Chamber of Britain. Tho scheme foreshadowed by the Government would involve Parliament and tho country in a long and bitter controversy, during which tho Government might bo destroyed.

Lords and Reform. Mr. Asquith, the Primo Minister, 6aid the Government could not rest with tho Second Chamber as at present constituted. Hβ was satisfied that in tho interests of any democratic country a Second Chamber was desirable., provided it was clothed with definite limited functions—in nowise, competing, as an organ of the popular will, with tho elected representatives of the people— and invested with the functions of revision, consultation, and delay. The Government, added Mr. Asquith, considered it was obligatory, time permit-, ting, to propose during the present Parliament a scheme for tho reform of the Houso of L6rds under tho Veto Bill. Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposi-. tion, declared that consultation, revision, and delay ought to bo the Houso of Lords' main function; He depre-l cated tho Houec of Commons holding in its keeping tho destinies of tlia' country. ■ ' Voting on tho Bill. Mr. Barnes's amendment was defeated, tho voting being:— Against the amendment ...... 218 For tho amendment .*. • 47. Majority against ■. « 171 The Opposition abstained from voting.; The Bill then passed through Com.' mitlee, the voting being as follows:— For the Bill ~. 2C5 Agnhist the Bill 147 Majority for 118 UNIONIST POLICY, London, May 4. "Tho Times" suggests that many, Ministerialists arc in favour of tho, passing of the Opposition's Reform of i tho Houso of Lords Bill, on condition ,' that tho Veto Bill applies to tho re-' formed Chamber.