THE KING AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 826, 14 April 1910, Page 2

THE KING AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

Shortly after the accession of the King, writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne Age, some public concern was exhibited with regard to the direction in which he might be expected to influence State policy, particularly in international affairs, but in point of candour and novelty that discussion was a trifle in comparison with the present buzz of speculation as to his attitude towards the Liberals on the constitutional question. His reputation for coolness and tact, his sustained neutrality in party matters, the wellknown fact that he maintains a close study ot current politics, assisted by a course of newspaper leading articles every morning after breakfast, the probability that he would oppose as far as possible all suggestions for violent and hasty reform of the House of Lords, and the general difficulties of his position, imparted a keen zest to the gossip of the hour. His retreat to Brighton, where he remained during the election and for nearly two weeks after its close, surrounded by friends who have never been suspected of any particular interest in Parliamentary affairs, is believed to have been a calculated move, made for the purpose of keeping out of easy access of politicians of all kinds, official as well as unofficial. No one was able to reach him from London without being observed, and that was apparently what he desired. Most of the rumours which his Majesty’s name has been associated during the crisis have probably originated in guess work. But for two of them there is likely to be some foundation in fact. One of these, a club story, is to the effect that in a recent interview with the Prime Minister the King commented adversely upon the apparent desire of Mr Lloyd-George to promote class antagonism, and suggested—making it clear that he put the matter purely on public grounds—that Mr Asquith should either exercise a stricter control over his colleague, or, if unable to do so, should require his resignation from the Cabinet. The other report is that in the course of a consultation after the election Mr Asquith raised the question of whether it would be practicable, as a last resource, to solve the “veto ” difficulty bv adding about 500 Liberals to the House of Lords. The King is said to have dismissed the idea ;vith an immediate and absolute negative.