BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 188, 18 November 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

" A DEATH-BED REPENTANCE."' LORD ROSEBERY PROCEEDS WITH HIS RESOLUTIONS. THE DEBATE IN THE LORDS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 17, 11.45 a.m. London, November 17. Speaking in the- House of Lord.-,, Lord Lansdowue said lie was doubtful of the usefulness of discussion without the possibility of amendment, but he would consult his colleagues. He addeel: 'We are all ready to de-vise some means whereby the differences between the Houses may be solved in a reasonable and, if possible, an amicable manner.'' Mr. Asquith himself had referred to the possibility of joint sessions, yet the Government was precipitately dissolving Parliament, and presumably throwing the finances of the year into irremediable confusion. The House of Commons' claim of preponderance in finance was not unreasonable if the claim were reasonably interpreted.

Lord Crewe declared that after the failure of the Veto Conference, the country would regard another discussion as absolute waste of time. Agreement by arrangement in the course of debate with the Lords was no longer feasible. Hitherto all the proposals to reform the House of Lords implied that the reconstruction would give such authority in the eyes of the country that they ought to retain the whole of their present powers. He • added: "You don't know yourselves what you mean by reform. We must deal with you as you are." Lord Rosebery announced that he would proceed with his resolution to-day. The House must itself affirm the sincerity of its desire for reform. Lord Crewe, answering Lord Balfour of Burleigh, said he would reserve his reply as to what the Government would do regarding the, amendment, if the Lords read the Parliament Bill a second time. DISSOLUTION PERSISTED IN. PREMIER OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN TO-MORROW. GOVERNMENT DEPENDENT ON NATIONALISTS. Received 17, 9.45 p.m. London, November 17. It is understood that the Government still intend to persist with a dissolution • before the 28th. Mr. Asquith opens the campaign on Saturday with an address at the National Liberal Club. Mr. Lloyd-George speaks at Limehouse on Monday. The Times declares that Mr. Asquith's declaration of April 14 is capable of an interpretation not connected with the guarantees. The Government would have been in a stronger position if {hey had resigned after the victorious election, because the creation of peers would have been withheld. The Unionists must strain every nerve to make it clear that a composition with the Lords is a secondary matter, and that they are fighting for an efficient Second Chamber. The Chronicle characterises the House of Lords' action as a "death-bed repentance. 9 Lord Lansdowne's speech was smooth and plausible, but it belonged to a world of "make-believe." • Sir A. F. Acklani-Hood (principal Opposition Whip) said that if the dissolution be forced, it is because the Government is unable to get the Budget through except with Mr. Redmond's leave. THE BRITON'S FREEDOM OF SPEECH KEIR HARDTE'S CHARACTERISTIC UTTERANCES. Received 17, 10.55 p.m. London, November 17. Mr. Keir Hardie, speaking at Bermondsey, said he hoped it was not true that the King was interfering in regard to a dissolution. When coronets were going into the melting pot the Crown had better beware. "The people are blind to their own interests while they bow to the threefold demon of imperialism, militarism and royalism." i LORDS REFORM BILL INTRODUCED. THE CONSERVATIVE CAMPAIGNERS' SHREWDNESS.

WHOLESALE CREATION OF PEERAGES. London, November 10. The Chronicle notes the subtlety of Lord Lansdowne's resolution demanding the introduction of the Bill into Parliament instead of resolutions, since the Bill contains the preamble favoring a reformed Second Chamber which caused Liberal perplexity and doubt in the spring. The Daily News says that if the Government resigns the only conclusion will be that the King intervened by refusing contingent guarantees, but it is inconceivable that the Crown should ally itself with the Lords to prevent the judgment of the people solemnly given at an election being carried into law. The News adds: 'We* have Mr. Asquith's solemn pledge not to dissolve unless the contingent guarantees are in his possession."

[The contingent guarantee refers to the proposal to get the King's consent to an unlimited creation of Liberal peers should the House of Lords prove obdurate.] I The Kin? will come to London to confer witlf Mr. Asquith. and is arranging to return in the evening. The Telegraph protest* against the Throne being dragged into the controversy. The Premier and Ivirl Crewe had an interview with the Kin;:, who returned to S'andringham. A (,'al.inet council irasubsequently held. SURPRISES IN THE LORDS. London. November Hi. There were further surprises when the Lords met. Lord Lansdowne announced that the Lords had been ready with their solution of the Second Cham-

should consist of nil adequate representation of Hie lust clement* cxis'.ing iti the House, reinforced from outside. A> tlie conference hid failed the Government should proceed in Parliament with their Bill. Lord Crewe said that the Government was willinc He would introduce the Bill to-night and take the sec-ond reading next week. The House could then cither pass or reject it. The Government would not accept any amendment. The Morning Post is of opinion that there are few Englishmen who will not In' exasperated that questions of grave moment should he decided by politicians possessing power through foreign money.

WASTING NO TIME. London, November IG. The Parliament Bill was read a first time in the House of Lords. THE VETO RESOLUTIONS. The veto resolutions referred to in late cablegrams are as follow: (1) It is expedient that House of Lords should be disabled by law from rejecting or amending Money Bills. These are defined as follow: Bills which the Speaker considers to contain 'only provisions dealing with the imposition, repeal, remission, alteration, or regulation of taxation; also charges on the Consolidated Fund, or the provision of money by Parliament; also the supply and appropriation, control, or regulation of public money; also the raising, guaranteeing, or repayment of loans, or matters incidental to these subjects. (2) It is expedient that the powers of the House of Lords respecting Bills other than Money Bills be legally restricted so that when a Bill has passed the House of Commons three successive sessions, and has been sent to the House of Lords at least a month before the end of the session, and rejected in each of the three sessions, it shall become law without the consent of the House of Lords upon the Royal Assent being given, provided that . at least two years shall elapse between the first introduction to-the House of Commons and the date when it passes the House of Commons for the third time. Bills shall be treated as rejected if not passed by the House of Lords without amendment, or with only amendments agreed to by both Houses. (3) The third resolution limits the duration of Parliament to five years.

LORD ROSEBERY'S RESOLUTIONS. Lord Rosebery's resolutions for the re form of the House of Lords are as fol low:

(1) That a strong and efficient Second Chamber, an integral part of the Constitution, is necessary for the well-being of the State and the balance of Parliament. (2) That such a Chamber can best be obtained by the reform and reconstruction of the House of Lords.

(3) That a necessary preliminary to such reconstruction is the acceptance of the principle that the possession of a peerage no longer of itself gives the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords. (4) That in future the House of Lords shall consist of Lords of Parliament; (a) chosen by the whole body of hereditary peers among themselves; (b) nominated by the Crown; (c) sitting by virtue of offices and qualifications; and (d) chosen from outside. (5) The term of tenure of all shall be the same, except in the case of those sitting ex-officio, who shall sit so long as they hold the office wherefor they sit.'