THE VETO BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1167, 30 June 1911, Page 5

THE VETO BILL.

AN AMENDMENT CARRIED, HOUSE OF LORDS DETERMINED TO FIGHT. MINISTERIAL ATTITUDE. ii v Telesraph—Press Assooiation-Couyrichl ■ (Uec. June 29,. 11.10 p.m.) London, June 29. The Constitutional crisis was auvanced ammier siage ytsteruay, when the Jiuuse oi .Lords carried an amendment to tno Veto Hid against,' tne Uovermiieiit. Lord (Jrutuer (Unionist; in accordance tt'itn his notico ot motion, moved that a new section bo inserted in Clause 1 oi tlie bill, to provide lor the appointment ol u joint committee ot seven members Irutn each House, with the Speaker as chairman, to decide what is a Money Bill, and other doubtful points which may arise in connection with the interpretation ot the Biii; the Speaker and tho Lord Chanceilur to select, tue committee in such a manner, as to secure an impartial tribunal. Speaking in support of his motion, Lord Cromer emphasised the necessity for an impartial tribunal to decide what was a Money Bill. Lord Haldane, Secretary of State for War, said the proposed amendment would enable tho committee to control Parliament. It was impossible to separate a Government's general policy from its finance. Lord Loreburn, Lord High Chancellor, held that the amendment would dethrone the House of Commons from the position of unassailablo authority it had hitherto occupied on questions of finance. Lord St. Aldwyn (Unionist) suggested that the committee should consist of the Lord Chancellor, tho Speaker, the Chairmen of Committees of the House of Lords and the House of Commons with a fifth person to be chosen by the other four. Lord Morloy, Lord President of tho Council, declared that nothing would induce the Government to accept the proposed committee. If Lord Lansdowne's proposed amendment to Clause 2 of the Bill wore also persisted in, all possibility of agreement would vanish. The House then adopted the amendment after a division, ihe voting being: For the amendment 183 Against.the amendment .' ii Majority f0...r 139 VETO BILL LAW THIS YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE. "The result is a foregone conclusion," said Mr. Herbert , Samuel, the British Postmaster-General, at .Newcastle, last month, "and it is clear," ho continued, "that the nation, the House of Commons; aiid the Government' have all definitely resolved that in the year 1911 the Parliament- hit], unchanged 'in any essential particular, shali bo placed upon tho Statute Book. (Loud cheers.) I can give you. the very definite assurance on behalf of the Government that come what may that resolution is unalterable." (Renewed cheers.)

Proceeding to refer to Liberal legislation which v;ould follow the passing of the Veto Bill, ho said they' would place on the Statute Book a measure long overdue, one man ono vote, and a measure for the settlement of tho government of Ireland.' 1 Furthermore, it was their expectation and desire that the Parliament Bill should be used to facilitate a measure for the coinplete.reform'of/the House of Lord's itself, in'his , view;very ncoeiJ?a°' TEXT OF CLAUSE I; Clause I as amended by the Houso of Commons, is as follows:— 1.—(1). If. a Money Bill, Haying been passed by, the House of Commons, and sent up to the House of- Lords at least on© month before the end of the session, is not passed by the House of Lords without amendment within one month after it is so sent up to that House, tho Bill shall, unless the House of Commons direct to tho contrary, be presented to his Majesty-and become an Act of. Parliament on the Royal Assent being signified, notwithstanding, that the House ,of Lords have not. consented to tho Bill. (2) A Money Bill means a public Bill which in tho opinion of the Speaker of the House of Commons contains only provisions dealing with all or any of tho following subjects, namely, tho imposition, repeal, remission, alteration, or regulation of taxation; charges on the Consolidated Fund or the provision of money by Parliament; supply; tho appropriation, control, or regulation of public money; the raising or guarantee of any loan or the payment thereof; or subordinate matters incidental to those subjects or any of them. In this sub-section the expressions "taxation," "public money,", and "loan." respectively, do not include any taxntion, money, or loan raised by local authorities or bodies for local purposes. (3) Every Money Bill when it is sent np to the House of Tx>rils qikl when it is presented to his Majesty' for assent, shall be accompanied by a certificate of tho Speaker of tho House of Commons that it is a Money Bill.