GAGGING THE COMMONS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1785, 25 June 1913, Page 7

GAGGING THE COMMONS

BY STATUTE.

RIGHT TO AMEND BILLS. DENIED BY PARLIAMENT ACT. By Telegraph—PrcHi Association— CoDjriifet London, June 23. In tha House of Commons, the Primo Minister, .Mr. Asquith, moved to mako the committee and report stages of the Homo Rule, Welsh Church Disestablishment, and Scottish Temperance Bills formal, arguing that tho Bills must, under tho Parliament Act, bo returned unamended. Ho admitted that the practice of moving wrecking amendments was legitimate, and the Liberals might bo compelled to resort thereto when in opposition. A voioe: "That will be very soon." The Premier: "I don't care whether it is sooner or later." He added that if suggestions to iniprovo the Bills wero made before tho third reading, the Government would consider their nature and allot timo for their discussion. Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Unionist) moved a resolution regretting the suppression of tho right to amend Bills vitally affccting the Constitution, and characterised that suppression ss a gross infringement of the prerogatives of the House.

CLOSURE APPLIED. (Reo. June 2i, 11.30 p.m.) London, Juno 21. Tha amendment moved by Mr. Austen Chamberlain was negatived by 202 votes to 294. Mr. Asquith's, resolution was "closured" and carried. Mr. Winston Churchill said that the Opposition's idea was that liberty was power to impose a permanent vote against liberal measures. Regarding the so-called degradation of the ' House, he askod whether the Liberals were not degraded in 190G, when all their Bills were thrown out. Mr. F. E. Smith (Unionist), on behalf of tho Opposition, announced that he would take no part in the suggestion stages of tho three Bills. Heretofore i thevo have been five stagey in tho career of a Bill, in the House of Commons: Tho first reading, tho second reading, tho Committee stnge, the report stage, and third reading. With regard to tlio Homo Rule, Welsh Disestablishment, and Scottish Temperance Bills, passed last year and rejected by the House ot Lords, made their reappearance in tho Commons, under the terms of the Parliament Act these measures must again pass through all their stages in the Commons, but no alterations can bo made in them by the Commons. They must go to the Lords in precisely the same form m which they wero originally passed on to tho second Chamber. It is open to the House of Lords, however, to introduce amendments, and these may afterwards be accepted by the Commons. The Committee stage is retained, but it is a formalin. For practical purposes it is to bo succeeded bv a "suggestion stage. The practical purpose served by tho suggestion stage is to provide an opportunity _ for the House to give tho Lords their views as to tho lines on which any amendment ot tlie Bill would b3 acceptable to them.