THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2124, 5 July 1907, Page 3

THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

In connection with tho British Government’s campaign against the Hons© of Lords, an Australian paper recalls tlio fight botw'oon tlio Lords and tho Commons in 1884. They Woro tho days of the Third Reform and Redistribution Bill, when tho names of those who led tho Liberals were Gladstone and Bright and Morloy and—Chamberlain. The Bill had been, forced through tho House of Commons aftor a four months’ fight, only to bo promptly rejected by tlio House of Lords. Fooling ran high throughout the country. A mooting, attended by 10,000 persons, was hold in Hyde Park to denounce the peers, and Mr. John Morlo.v, at tlio groat gathering of Liberal delegates hold in St. Janies’ Hall, made bis famous remark-, “Be sure that no power on earth can separate henceforth the question of mending the House of Commons from tlio question of mending. or ending, the House of Lords.” Mi Bright, speakiir- as Birmingham, referred to the Lords us many of them the spawn of the plunder of tho wars and tin- corruption of tlio dark ages of our country, while Mr. Chamberlain out-11 eroded Herod with this declaration: .“During tho last 100 years the House of Lords lias never contributed one iota to papilla ' liberties or popular freedom, or done anything to advance flic common weal ;and during that time it has protected every abuse and sheltered every privilege. It is irresponsible without independence, obstinato without courage, arbitrary without

judgment, and arrogant without knowledge.” A ouarter of a century finds the same question uppermost again, and Mr. Morley and Mr. Chamberlain on different lidos of

the fence. The former has probably learnt that it is not safo to prophesy too strongly.