"THE PEERS."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 9

"THE PEERS."

Sir,—Of late you havo been devoting somoof your space to the present political situation in Britain, and your moder-ately-worded remarks thereon are worthy of your countrymen's lavourablo consideration/ But there is one view of the situation that you have not touched upon; indeed, I have not seen it commented upon in any of the comments of the leading British daily papers that are from timo to time cabled out to New Zealand. No doubt it has occurred to the present leaders of the Liberal party, both in the House of Commons and in the Lords, though for obvious reasons it is kept back, and it is this:

We have been advised that there aro to be sent up to the House of Lords a first batch of 50 Peers to overawe the Opposition. Then if that does not do, another batch, until there is a majority to carry the Parliament Bill. Now, ~Mr. Asquith is surely aware of the fact that both political parties are pledged to reform of the Lords, and granted that by swamping the Lords he carries his Bill, then comes reform, what about the.-o "pocket Peers"? What is to become, of them ? Many of them will not be included in tho new House, and it is very likely if these "pocket Peers" are sent up there will bo a lot of them present members of the House of Commons. Now, how can these rejects from the Lords turn round and seek entranco to the House of Commons again? I think they would find little support from either party. It is surely the irony of fate that the Liberals will now be tainted with "pocket Peers" (same as they taunted tho Tories with in the early years of last century, when tho fight for reform was on), namely, "pocket boroughs." Again, the recent cable messages reveal another aspect of the position. Lord Morley complains of the apathy of some of tho Liberal Lords neglecting their duty. I think if the truth were known some of these Liberal Lords are heartily sick of the tactics of the Government, not. knowing their position under the proposed reform of the House of Lords. I think it will be seen that Mr. .Asquith is in a very serious position as far as the present Liberal party is concerned. Then,- again, the King might use his prerogative in his choice of Peers,,as he has a perfect right to do. If these new Peers are largely drawn from the House of Commons, as no doubt they will bo, there is the chance of Unionists being rc'iirncd in their places, which might turn the_ pendulum the other way. Then, again, let us grant, for argument sake, that Home Rule is granted to Ireland (which I personally hope it will not be), whore will Mr. Asqniih's majority come from? As without Hie support of the irish Nationalists his place would not be worth much. So no matter how he casts it seems there is going to be a split up of this so-called great Liberal party. It scorns to me wo are in for some of this work in New Zealand if tho reforms that are being advocated bv Mr. Massey can bo carried out. No doubt I am. getting away from the subject that I started on. However, I will trv and exflam what I mean as shortly as nossible. Now, supposing that tho present New Zealand Government are defeated next election, Mr. Massey is chosen Prime Minister, and passes these legislative Council reforms in the Lower House. Ha is faced with the position of a hostile IJpner House, as the present pnrtv is «t>-on~-ly represented there, and I 'am led to believe there aro several vacancies in that Chamber which the Government might not fill up till after Hi.-> elections. Then if they are defeated there is nothing to stop them from choosing some of their number for these vacancies, for the «olo' mirpose of blocking Mr. Massey's "reforms. Then we would likrlv have another election, which tnigM turn out the Reform party. I do not know ivhetheitho Reform party has looked at this carter from this standpoint, but T think thov should do so. and. nut before the country their way of dealing with this matter, either by amoii'ling the Tpncr House! siy, the Lower to elert the I'ppor House, which I think would be a verv I <>ood. idea, for as at present constituted it is under the thumb of the parly in power.—l am, etc., TnOS.-M. MILLIGAN July 20, 1911. [In the event of Mr. Massey being returned to power ho would be' in a "position to ask that a sufficient number of appointments to the Legislative Council should Ira made to ensure the will of the. people in respect of Log-'slativo Council reform being given effect to.]