REFORM OF THE LORDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 344, 21 March 1910, Page 5

REFORM OF THE LORDS

BUDGET MUST BE PRESSED FORWARD. A REBUILT SECOND CHAMBER. ON A DEMOCRATIC BASIS. . SPEECH B\ THE PREMIER. By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright Received March 20, 5 p.m. London, Alui'ik 10. The Premier (Mr Asquith), in a speech at Oxford, said the election uad c.tated a .position unforseen by au parties. Only after hesitation had 'he and his colleagues concluded it was their duty to remain in office. The Budget must be pressed forward with promptitude and despatch, in order to set right the unexampled financial confusion produced by the House of .Lords. Ara tionally-constituted second chamber was des.rable —not a chamber overwhelmed and undisguisediy partisan. The recent debate in the House of Lords on the question of reform showed a desire toiiat the ancient structure be disguised with a coat of democratic whitewash, "ihe Liberals', he said, demand a second chamber rebuilt on a democratic basis, thus preventing the chronic deadlock. The legislative power of the country u«clared itself predominantly Liberal anil that the absolute veto must go. "A SHAM AND A SCREEN." COMMENT BY THE TIMES. Received March 20, 5 v-'"-London, March £9. The Times, commenting on the npewh, said that Mr Asquith and his friends meant to preserve the s'econd chamber as a sham and a screen. That was me new democracy conception of English constitutional Government.

GERM OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME. IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN ACT. Received March 20, 5 p.m. London, March 19. The Times states that the germ of the Government's House of Lords reform will lie tound in clause 63 of the South African union Act. The South African Union Act provides' for a Senate of 40 members, eight nominated by the Governor-General in Council and the others elected by each province. The Senate is able to reject or amend all Bills except, money Bills, which it may reject, but not amend. In case of disagreement it is arranged that the two rious'es should sit and vote together at once in the case of a money Bill, but in other cases «"ly after a Bill nas been passed a second time by'the Lower House.

THE VETO AND BUDGET. LORDS MADE TO SWALLOW BOTH. SPEECH BY MR. CHURCHILL. Received March 21, 0.40 a.m. London, March 20. Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at Manchester, said: "I am not frightened by the idea of a single Chamber. I do not attach importance to the question which some do. If a second Chamber is established in future, it must be based on the votes of the great masses of the wage-earning population." The Government's resolutions would, he said, be tabled on Tuesday. They were the late Sir Campbell-Bannerman's. strengthened by Mr. Asquith in one or two particulars. The debate on the resolutions ■would commence on the 29th. The ; Budget had been misrepresented and misunderstood in Ireland, but the House or Lords must be made to swallow both veto and Budget. He .did not believe the present Parliament would come to an untimely end through the Budget's failing.

LORD LANSDOWNE'S POLICY. A REPRESENTATIVE CHAMBER. London, March 18. The Standard, summarising Lord Lansdowne's Second Chamber policy, considers the powers of veto would not be weakened. The number of Peers would 'be reduced, but the whole Peerage would select representatives of their own body, while the others would sit without election by virtue ox their public services. The Government of the day would also select a number of Peers with tenure of office long enough not to be influenced by the general elections. The principle of life Peern/re would be extended to cover representation of all schools of political thought and the great interests of the count!"'.