BRITISH POLITICS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 817, 22 March 1910, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS

London, March iS,

The Standard summarising Lord Lansdovvne's second Chamber policy, considers its powers of veto would not be weakened. The number of I’eers would be reduced, but the whole Peerage would select representatives of their own body. Otliers would sit without election by virtue of their public service. The Government of the day would also select a number of Peers with a tenure of office long enough not to be influenced by general elections. The principle of life Peerages would be extended to cover the representation of all schools of political thought and the great interests of the country. London, Saturday.

The Standard summarises Lord Lansdowne’s Second Chamber Policy as under: - The veto powers not to be

weakened. The number of peers to be reduced, but the whole of the peerage to

select representatives of their

owu body. Other peers to sit without election, by virtue of public service. The Government of the day to also select a number of peers with a tenure loug enough to be uninfluenced by general elections.

The principle of life peerages to be extended so as to cover representation ot all the schools of political thought and great interests of the country.

The Government is issuing twenty-one million of three per cent Kxchequer bonds for a live years’ currency. The Times states that the germ of the Government’s Lords reform proposals is to be found in Clause 63 of the South Africa Act. Lonijon, March 21.

Mr Asquith, in a speech at Oxford, said the election had created a position unforeseen by all parties, and it was only after considerable hesitation that he and his colleagues had concluded it their duty to remain in office. “The Budget,” said Mr Asquith, “must be pressed forward with promptitude and despatch in order to set right the unexampled financial confusion produced by the Lords. A rationally constituted Second Chamber is desirable, but not so a Chamber overwhelmingly and uudisguiscdly partisan. The Lords Reform debate,” said the speaker, “showed a desire that the ancient structure should be disguised with a coat built on a democratic basis. The Liberals demand a Second Chamber, rebuilt on a democratic basis, thus preventing a chronic deadlock in legislative power.” Mr Asquith concluded by stating that the country had declared itself predominantly Liberal and the absolute veto must go.

The Times, commenting on the speech, said Mr Asquith and his friends to preserve a Second Chamber as a sham and a screen. ■'That,” says the Times, “is the new democratic conception of English constitutional government.'’

Kt. Hon. Winston Churchill, speaking at Manchester, said : “I am not frightened by the idea of a Single Chamber and do not attach the amount of importance to the question which some do. If a Second Chamber is established in the future it must lie based upon the votes of the great masses of the wage-earning population.”

Mr Churchill added that the Government's resolutions will be tabled on Tuesday and are the same as those of the late Sir Henry Campbell Bannenuan’s, strengthened by Mr Asquith in oue or two particulars.

The debate on the resolutions commences on the 29th. “ The Budget,” said Mr Churchill, “ has been misrepresented and misunderstood in Ireland, but the Fords Djust be rqade to swallow both the veto and the Budget.” “ I do riot believe," he concluded, “that Parliament will come tq an untimely end, through the Budget’s failing.”