BRITISH POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

♦ ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. AMENDMENTS REJECTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March VS. Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of tho Opposition, in the course of the 'Address-in-Eeply debate in the House of Commons, denounced the impropriety of passing great measures without reference to the electors. The Postmaster-General (llr. Herbert Samuel) said it was tho Government's duty not to leave the reform of tho Houso of Lords to the Unionists, who would only provide a colourable reform with the restoration of the veto. The Government would have been blind if it had not anticipated that policy in the present Parliament. The new Second Chamber should not contain a vestige of hereditary principle, and under no circumstances should tho absolute veto be restored.

Mr. Walter Long's amendment to the Address-in-Reply, that it would be improper to proceed with the Homo Rule and Welsh Church. Disestablishment Bjjls while the House of Lords remained uniformed without Teference to the electors, was rejected by 262 votes to' 169. OP LORDS' REFORM. London, March 13. The Premier (Mr. Asquith) has informed, the Hon. Harry : Lawson (Unionist member for Tower Hamlets) that a Committee of Cabinet is considering the question of the reform of the House of Lords. ■LABOUR AMENDMENT LOST. (Rec. March 14, 11.5 p.m.) London, March 14. The Labour party's amendment to the Addi'ess-in-Reply regretting the omission of legislation to secure a minimum living wage, and tho nationalisation of lands, railways, and mines and other monopolies, has, been rejected by 199 votes'to 41. The debate elicited a statement that since 1900 wages have risen one per cent, whilo retail prices have risen fifteen per cent. ' Mr. Buxton, President of tlie Board of Trade, said he doubted whether the nationalisation ot tho railways was a good economic proposition. He regarded the nationalisation of mines' as a speculative business, and doubted whether the State was tho right body to' undertake the work. The Government would consider any effective proposal to secure a minimum v.-age. Ho proposed to extend tho Trade Boards Act to a number of additional industries.