BRITISH POLITICS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 816, 19 March 1910, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS

London, March 17

The debate on Lord Rosebery’s motions for the reform of the House of Lords was continued.

The Primate, in supporting the resolution, declared the Government’s proposed sweeping departure from immemorial usage was unjustified. He urged a commousense rc-adjustmeut. The Marquis of Salisbury supported the motion, adding that there must be a process of selection giving some personal guarantee of the Peers’ fitness for the legislative function.

Lord Newton was now in favour of Lord Rosebery’s view. Lord Curzon emphasised the feeling in respect wherewith the House of Lords was viewed in the Colonies as a benign House, where the Colonies’ case was stated with experience, regarded sympathetically, and judged with authority. How much more was this the case in an ancient, aristocratic country like India, throughout which country the House of Lords was regarded with much veneration aud respect. He added that onefourth of the Plouse sat as the result of its own honourable exertions. He had no sympathy with a popularly elected 3ecoud Chamber, but favoured rooting the House deeper in democracy. Lord Burghclere, in also supporting the resolution, advocated limiting the veto. Lord Cromer said the House of Lords should retain its powers intact.

Lord Halsbury severely criticised Lord Rosebery's resolutions, but was willing they should go to committee ,

Lords Crewe and Lansdowue continue the debate to-day. It is understood that the Lords will take the resolutions in Committee nest week, adopt the first two, and consider the third after Easter. The Times’ Parliamentary correspondent says the Ministry is in favour of a Second Chamber of 150 members. The method of electing Senators is still under discussion, but the present intention is that half the Seuate shall be elected for eight years and half for four years. Mr Gibbons, a magistrate and candidate at the Mid-Glamorgan-shire bye-election, in an election speech, said that the Liberals in the constituency bitterly protested against the Master of Klibauk advising them not to oppose the Labour Party.

The Master of Elibauk replies that the South Wales Miners’ Federation repeatedly resolved to abstain while Sir Alfred Thomas, Member tor Glamorganshire East, and Sir Samuel P. Evans, late Member for Mid-Glamorganshire, adhered to the general political programme of the F e deratiqu, hut whenever a vacancy occurred to contest the seat against all comers. Mr John Redmond, leader of the Irish Party, speaking at Newcastle said he was perfectly sure that there would be a general election in a few weeks.