REFORM OF THE LORDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 340, 16 March 1910, Page 5

REFORM OF THE LORDS.

THE DANGER OF WITHHOLDING CONCESSIONS. LORD ROSEBERY'S APPEAL. *3y Cable. —Press Association.—Co j\right Received March 15, 10 p.m. London, March 15. The House of Lords was thronged today. among those present being the Prince and Princess of Wales. Lord Rosebery, in moving that the House go into committee on 'his resolution in connection with the reform of the House of Lords, contended it was hopeless to imagine the Government's veto resolution, if passed in 1910. would be followed by reform in 1911. The Liberals would say to Mr. Asquith: "We recognise your - good intention, but we do not mean to have anything to do with that. You deprived the House of Lords of its privilege and power in a single session of Parliament. What more do we want?" Mr. Asquith's proposal resembled the hamstringing of a valuable horse and then entering it for the Derby. He concluded a closely-reasoned and earnest speech against the Government's proposal for complete domination by the House of Commons by setting up a sham and impotent Second Chamber, mentioning the lessons of the French revolution and the danger of withholding concessions until too late. - He was convinced the House would rise to the height of a great occasion and earn the gratitude of unborn generations. Lord Morley, Secretary of State for India, urged the House to wait and hear the Government's proposals. Lord Rosebery had failed to touch the emergency confronting them. What they needed was an effective means of settling the differences between the two Houses. Lord Northcote approved the resolutions, but the details required careful examination. The debate was adjourned.