IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 187, 17 November 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

LORD LANSDOWNE LAUNCHES A PROPOSAL. THE GAUNTLET'S DOWN. WILL THE PREMIER TAKE IT UP? By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 16, 10.30 p.m. London, November 16. The House of Lords was crowded when Lord Lansdowne unexpectedly gave notice of motion to-day that the House invites the Government to submit to Parliament a Bill embodying the veto resolution for Parliament's consideration and decision. Lord Crewe replied that he was unable to state the Government's intentions. Lord lansdowne emphatically denied that the Veto Conference broke down because the Peers did not allow the Unionists members at the Conference to accept the Government's terms. He said absolutely that the Unionists had no consultation with any peers, and added: "Some of us are not without hopes that another conference will be held, which will be more successful." Lord Roseberv, interviewed with reference to demanding the precedence of his reform resolutions, declared that he would sooner sit all night long on Thursday and risk the dissolution on Friday • than that the Lords should have no opportunity to discuss his reforms. The Times suggests that if the Government refuse the present Parliament a Bill reading the House of Lords, Lord Lansdowne should himself introduce the Government's Bill and amend it so that it would embodv a policy of constructive reform to which the Unionist peers would be prepared to pledge themselves. A meeting of Cabinet was held lasting two hours and a-half. Lotd Knollys afterwards conferred with Mr. Asquith. There are many reports that the King refused an immediate dissolution as unstitutional. Lord Lansdowne's motion has increased the sensation in the lobbies, where the opinion is that the Government will find it difficult to refuse Lord Lansdown'e suggestion. OUTCOME OF A CONSULTATION. Received 16, 10.30 p.m. London, November 16. As a result of a consultation between Mr. Balfour, Lord Lansdowne, Lord Cawdor and Mr. Chamberlain, the last-named •will move at the Unionist Conference at Glasgow on the 25th a resolution welcoming the Lords' acceptance of the principle that possession of the peerage no lonser gives the right to sit and vote in the Upper Cliamber, and welcoming any reasonable proposals to increase its efhciencv and representative character by the creation of additional life peerages. or representatives elected from outside for a term of years; also declaring that there is no serious difficulty in adjusting the possible differences to the Commons and the reform of the second chamber, hut if the differences relate to vital issues, particularly to the Constitution, the people are entitled to decide. The Drapers' and Grocers' Associations throughout the country are protesting against holding the election before Christmas. LABOR ORGANISATION. Received 16, 11.30 p.m. London, November 16. All members of the Labor Party will stand again for their present constituencies, excepting Mr. Shackleton, but an attempt will lie made to avoid hopeless and especially three-cornered contests. Altogether there will be about sixty Labor candidates. MR. BALFOUR'S UTTERANCE. Received 16, 9.45 p.m. London, November 16. Great interest is being evinced in Mr. Balfour's speech, to be made to-morrow to the National Union of Conservative Associations at Nottingham, on account . of which the date of Mr. Asquith's statement was changed to Friday. DISCUSSING THE PROBABILITIES. PARTISAN PAPERS' APPEALS. London, November 16. It is announced that the Premier will not meet Parliament to-day, as he is visiting the King at Sandringham. considers the abandonment of business for the session presents some obvious advantages to a Government confronted by awkward questions like the taxation "of Irish whisky, women's suffrage, and the Osborne judgment. It also deprives the country of the opportunity of considering the* alternative reforms which the Lords are elaborating. The Chronicle says that before the elections begin guarantees will have to be asked and given that the will of the people as declared at the polls shall prevail. An immediate dissolution is a bold dramatic stroke such as the democracy loves. It prevents the total obscuration of the real issue, and avoids Parliamentary embarrassments. It will be welcom•edbv traders and commercial people, who dread the prolongation of political unrest.

The Daily News urges that a Bill of a single clause should be passed fixing the elections for one day and bringing the new register into operation on December 1.

The Manchester Guardian, insisting on the need of elections on one day, considers that the Lords are mutineers who decline to obey the country's decisive victory in January.

The" Pall Mall Gazette contends that the Premier has flung all pledges to Parliament to the winds, and the country will be plunged into the turmoil of an election unprovoked by an adverse vote. If the programme is executed it will be an outrageous violation of the privilege* of Parliament unequalled since Cromwell invaded the House of Commons. Mr. Churchill, with characteristic impetuosity and unscriipulousness, determined, by means of his letter to his constituents to get in the first blow. The Westminster Gazette says that the Government is compelled to dissolve because the Lords and the Unionists decline to admit that the country at the hut election decided more than the compulsory parsing of the TSmbet. Several papers, including the Times, support concentration on the constitutional issue. PREMIER'S STATEMENT DEFERRED. London.. November IK. Mr. Llovd-George. in the absence of the Premier, informed the Hott-e that circumstances had arisen which rendered it undesirable to proceed with business to-dav. The Premier would make a statement on Thursday. He then moved the adjournment. Mr. Balfour suggested that Mr Asquith should defer his statement till Monday. Mr. Lloyd-George offered to agree to Friday, which was accepted. Lord CurzoTi, gpeaki«w at Bristol, said: