THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 296, 9 December 1908, Page 3

THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

COLONIAL REPRESENTATION

FEDERAL PREMIER'S VIEWS.

. . Melbourne, December S. The Federal Premier, Mr. A. l'ishn-, speaking to an interviewer on the proposal ot the House of Lords Reform, Committee that nominees from the colonies should be appointed to the House, stated that, while he did not consider a Council of Empire was an impossible proposition, any attempt to hurry its establishment would defeat tbe object of those desiring closer connection within the Empire. From the cable it looked as if it were proposed to allow Australian representation by nominees in the House of Lords. Australians were not likely to take kindly to such a proposal, seeing that the Lords had no power to dial with linancial questions. The objection to nominees in any House would lie in the changes of Ministers, which were so frequent in Australia and which might involve a variation of the colony's policy in Imperial matters .without a corresponding change in representation at Home. There would also be some difficulty in obtaining suitable nominees. The man was not yet born who could be free from influence in Imperial affairs.

GOVERNMENT TAKING NO ACTION. Received 8, 10.30 p.m. ■ London, December 8. The Government does not intend to take any action regarding Lord Roseber/n committee's report in connection with the reform of the House of Lords, oh the ground tliat even if the proposals were adopted they would not solve the problem of the relations of the two liotises.