BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 961, 2 March 1911, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE PARLIAMENT BILL. London, Feb. 28. In the House of Commons the Right Hon. Mr Haldane, Secretary of State for War, declared that the second Chamber, properly constituted, would be sympathetic. Like the perfect wife it would comfort and warm, but not command. He added that the Government was pledged to use the Parliament Bill as a stepping-stone to a reformed second Chamber. He quoted Mr Asquith’s speech of last March dealing with the urgent need for reform, and concluded “ It is conferring on the other House great power, enabling it to reject a measure thrice.”

The Labourites, Nationalists, and others continued the debate. The House was not crowded, the attendance at the dinner hour being below a quorum. The Finance Bill will be taken next week iu the House of Commons, and thereafter the committee stage of the Parliament Bill will occupy three weeks under the operation of the guillotine.

Iu the Veto Bill debate Mr Balfour declared the reform of the Lords was needed. He admitted that no reform would be fair 0 r lasting which provided a stereotyped Tory majority. The second Chamber should represent the best elements of the country. 'The nation would require to know what common ground existed between two great parties before the Government could be permitted to carry the present Bill by methods of unparalleled violence, even using the Coronation as a weapon for political controversy.

A meeting of the Unionist M’s.P., to consider the reform of the Plouse of Lords and the split in the ranks, denied that difference had arisen over the proposed changes and li e complaint by the rank aud file that the leaders had not submitted a definite plan. There is every prospect of settlement.

PRESS CRITICISMS

The Daily News says that at one moment only one Tory was present at yesterday’s sitting of the House of Commons, namely, Lord Ronaldshay.

The desertion of the House was due to the fierce war waging in the Tory Camp. Mr Balfour and his friends fighting with their backs to the wall against the younger Tories, who favour an elective second Chamber and elimination of the hereditary principle. The Daily Mail confirms the statement that some of the younger Unionists favour a purely elective second Chamber, with a life of seven or jten years, but without any limitation of the second Chamber’s existing power.

The Glasgow Herald says the conviction is spreading that a purely elective second Chamber is essential. The House ot Cords reform would be useless unless the manner of it was approved by the bulk of the Liberals. Schemes based on Lord Lansdowne’s and Lord Curzon's proposals are dead. Large constituencies with several members elected by proportional representation would so far free the second Chamber from ordinary party divisions.