THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 322, 23 February 1910, Page 5

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.

AMBIGUOUS REGARDING THE LORDS.

By Cable.—Pre6s Association.—Copyright London, February 21.

There was' fine weather for the State opening of Parliament by the King, who was acco".-;:"i.;ui by the Queen and Prince and' Princess Henry of Battenburg- , . The Speech from the Throne does not .make reference to any new Bills. It refers to the friendly relations with the foreign Powers and foreshadows a substantial increase in the cost of the navy. Referring to the House of Lords, the Speech says there will be a proposal to secure the undivided authority of the House of Commons over finance, and its predominance in legislation. "These proposals," the Speech continues, " in my advisers' opinion, should provide that the House of Lords be so constituted and empowered as' to act impartially ii regard to proposed legislation, the functions of initiation and revision, and subject to the safeguards of delay." Reference is made to the South African- Union and the Prince of Wales' visit to inaugurate the Parliamentary life of a great united dominion. As the expenditure authorised by last Parliament was unprovided for by taxation, there has been temporary borrowing, and the Speech says arrangements must be made for promptly dealing with 'the financial situation thus created.

MR. ASQUITH'S INTENTIONS.

London, February 21. Mr. Asquith, Premier, states that he intends first to introduce the Budget and then to submit a motion which will form the foundation of the veto. The Bill itself -will be introduced after the pxtended vacation jn K,he middle o* April. DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. SPEECHES BY THE PREMIER AND MR. BALFOUR. "KEEP THE SOVEREIGN OUTSIDE PARTY." Received February 22, 11.5 p.m. London, February 22. In the House of Commons'. Messrs. P. H. Illingworth and C. Price moved and seconded the Address-in-Reply. Mr. Balfour said he heard with pleasure that a substantial increase in the cost of the navy was proposed. He toped the Government was prepared to face the situation and do what was necessary for the naval defence of the Empire. The reference to the Lords •was highly ambiguous, and seemed to embody two different policies forced into the framework of one ungrammatical sentence. The group system in Parliament was responsible for the difficulties of securing a direct mandate from the country. It was unreasonable that a Parliament elected for such a diversity of reasons l as the present one should claim a mandate to alter the constitution.

Mr. Asquitn followed. He explained that he had not intended to convey in Jiis Albert Hall speech that the Liberal Ministry would not meet the House of Commons unless they had previously secured a guarantee regarding the exercise of the Royal prerogative. "I have received ho such guarantees," he said; '•'l have not asked them. It is' a Minister's duty to keep the Sovereign outside party. If occasion should arise I ■will not hesitate to tender such advice to the Crown as the exigencies of the situation render necessary." Mr. Asquith continued that to ask in advance for an indefinite exercise of the Royal prerogative regarding a measure that had not even been submitted to the Commons was a request that no constitutional statesman could properly make and no sovereign be expected to grant. (Opposition cheers.) If the ma» chinery of government does not come to a standstill, an Act must be passed redeeming the war loan of 1900, and £21,000,000 of Treasury bills must be paid bsfore the end of March. The civil service, and old-age pensions would come to a standstill on !April Ist unless supply wa"s" voted. Tie Government proposed a short adjournment for Easter, but would have to dispose of the Budget and the veto resolution before the middle of April. The latter would not be submitted to the' Lords, but would be an authority for the Government framing the Veto Bill.

MR REDMOND'S DRAMATIC SPEECH. THE NATIONALISTS' PRICE, AT AN IMPORTANT STAGE. Received 22, 11.5 p.m. London, February 22. The Commons listened to Mr. Redmond with absorbed attention. He declared that the Nationalists were allied ■with no British party, but were prepared to accept good government of Ireland from any party. They had supported the Government at the elections heart and soul, believing Mr. Asquith's pledge regarding the abolition of the Lords' veto was tantamount to a pledge to grant Home Rule. They had understood the Albert Hall speech to mean that Mr. Asquith would not assume responsibility of Government unless he could rely on the Royal prerogative to enable him to pass the Veto Bill this yeaT. Every Minister repeated in substance that pledge, and Mr. Lloyd-George said the same thing at the National Liberal Club. "It is all very fine for Mr. Asquith to say he meant something elsfc, but it was upon the value of this pledge in conjunction with Home Rule that we supported the Government. The King's Speech is ambiguous. It suggests a scheme for altering the Lords' whole jconstitiition. That is not what we want. We want the veto limited. (Loud Nationalist and Labor cheers.) It is imperative that the Government's veto resolution should immediately proceed. If the Commons approve, and the Lords reject it, the Government will then be in a position to ask the Sovereign for a guarantee, and if this is refused, to free itself immediately from the responsibilities of government." Received February 23, 12.2 a.m. London, February 22. Mr. Redmond continued: "The financial crisis is your great weapon, but you throw it away immediately you pass' the Budget, and trust to luck or another election *n ge t the Veto Bill.

We in Ireland are not going to throwaway that weapon. If the Budget is passed first, the Commons will settle down to a humdrum discussion on the veto, which it knows the Lords will reject. An election follows, and the Government will he displaced by weary nTid disheartened electorates. Let the. Ministers give their assurance that they will cany the veto this year, and tire Nationalists will vote for the Budget. Wt are not going to pay this price for nothing. Don't let Mr. Asquith wait until he is kicked to his constituents by the Lords." There was a dramatic silence when Mr. Redmond finished. No speaker arose. Mr. Barnes hastily conferred with his colleagues, and then moved the adjournment to enable the Labor members to .discuss the situation. The House adjourned. The result of the Labor meeting wul not be disclosed until Mr. Barnes speaks to-day. IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. REFORM FROM WITHIN. Received 23, 12.2 a.m. London, February U2. In the House of Lords Sir T. C. Farrcr moved, and Lord Sale and Sele seconded the address. Lord Lansdowne tendered the Government his respectful admiration for disregarding the extremists' counsels regarding the Lords. He had not changed his opinion of the Budget, but if it found favor with the Commons the ,Lords were prepared to expedite Jts passage. He expressed his willingness .re the reform of the House of Lords if it were shown to be necessary, but he did not want a sham, tawdry Second Chamber. If the Government refused its co-operation, the Lords would at the proper time consider their own proposals.