Reform of the Lords

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 193, 24 November 1910, Page 5

Reform of the Lords

"PEERS CHAINED AND .MUTE.'' A SETTLEMENT IMPERATIVE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, November 22. In the debate in the Hou-e of Lords Lord Rosebery. replying to the remark of Earl Beam-lump that the course taken by Lord Lansdowne was unprecedented, asked: "Whose fault is that?" He added that the peers were chained and mute under the shadow of the constitution conference, and the Bill now introduced by the Government under pressure was an attempt to abolish one estate of the realm without substituting anything. The Lords did not mean to submit to the gag. Lord Loreburn, Lord High Chancellor, said that the question had long been debated, and the experience of five years liad led them to the conclusion that the Government would be unable usefully to conduct the business of the country ■while the present relations between the two Houses continued. Things must bfc settled one way or the other. The motion for the adjournment of the debate was carried.

I/3RD LAXSDOWNE'S PROPOSALS. London, November 22. Lord Lansdowne. after the adjournment of the debate, read his resolutions. These provide that in case of differences arising over Bills other than money Bills a joint sitting should be held of the Commons and Lords, which latter House should be reconstituted with reduced numbers in accordance with the Lords' recent resolutions, but that in matters of great gravity the Bill should be submitted to a referendum of the countrv; that the Lords forego the right to reject or amend purely money Bills, but that questions of tacking—that is, regarding the addition of controversial matters to money Bills—should be settled by a joint committee of both Houses, and if the committee decided that a measure was not purely financial then the Bill or provisions so considered should be dealt with forthwith at a joint sitting of the Houses.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. London, November 22. The House of Commons by 215 to 98 agreed to guillotine the finance business and adopted the Supplementary Estimates providing old-age pensions. The Times states that the Nationalists will support the Government in concentrating on the issue of the veto of ~ the Lords, feeling that if this poli<y is successful Home Rule will follow. MR. LLOYD-GEORGES SPEECH. London, November 22. Mr. Lloyd-George, in his speech at Mile End, recommended Tariff Reformers to go to Australia and try to persuade the people there to establish a House of Lords like that in Britain. Tfye nobility were descendants of French filibusters and others who appropriated in Reformation times lands and buildings consecrated to the sick and poor. Australians would say that rather than be governed by such men they would prefer snakes and kangaroos. He concluded by hoping that Mr. Lansbury, the Socialist candidate, would be elected for Mile End.

THE TIMES ON THE SITUATION.

London, November 22.

The Times says that the country will do well to remember the true inwardness of the situation is to be found not in the neatly expressed generalities of Mr. Asquith, but in the appeals to primitive instinct by Mr. Lloyd-George. All this fiery haste to rush into a general election is due to Mr. Redmond's fears that he will never again catch the English, parties so evenly matched. The Westminster Gazette considers that the House of Lords has done more in five days to undermine the old order than in the previous fifty years, thus proving the justification of the Government's policy. Lord Lansdowne's scheme calls for a definition of the proportion in which each House shall meet in the joint sitting and a definition of other questions of great gravity 1 :

MILITANT SUFFRAGETTES. SHELTERED BY SEX. STRIKES THE PREMIER. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. London, November 23. The Standard has re-opened its election fund for working-men candidates. The Premier stated in the House of Commons that if the Government were re-elected facilities would be given to deal with female suffrage. In addition to the payment of members and election expenses the Government would legislate to permit trades unions to include in their objects the provision of a Parliamentary and municipal representation ftnd provided the opinions of the unions wwfe effectively ascertained and there was no compulsion on members to contribute.

A suffragette struck the Premier in Parliament Square. The police hurried Mr. Asquith into a taxi-cab and the women then broke its windows. Hundreds afterwards invaded Downing-street, and a wild struggle followed. Many women and men were thrown down when the mounted police <leared the streets. Ninety-three person? were arrested, intruding Mrs. Pankburst and Dr. Garrett Anderson. 3rR. ASQUITH EXPLAINS. LOOKING TO tup: future. Received 2:5. !).4S p.m. London. November 2IS. Mr. Asquith, in an explanation, said the trades unions must establish a separate funds for political purposes by separate levy and apart from the general

Lonl Hugh Cecil asked what guarantee the Government had for carrying through the preamble of the Parliament Bill.

Mr. Asquith stated that the preamble I contemplates the latter stage of constitutional development. He added that regarding the mode and time thereof it was impossible to ;m' e pledges at this moment. (Opposition cheers). In reply to further questions, he said he was afraid he was unable to give an understanding that no Home Rule Bill would be introduced or passed before the House of Lords was reconstituted. Mr. Austen Chamberlain said it was not proposed to discuss the Finance Bill, the Government's procedure rendering such discussion an absolute farce. The Bill was read a second time without division or discussion. Lord Lansdowne will propose to-day that the House go into committee on his resolutions, and that the debate be continued to-morrow. The Labor Joint Board considered the closing part of Mr. Asquith's promise so ambiguous, that it resolved if necessary to move amendments to the Government Bill in 1011 in order to regain their former rights.

SILLY WOMEN. HOW NOT TO CONVINCE POLITICIANS. Received 23, 9.33 p.m. London, November 23. The Suffragettes are incensed at the mere promise of facilities in the next Parliament, instead of next session, for a freely amendable Bill. A hundred and fifty-three arrests were made. Mr. Birrell's shins were kicked, and his hat jambed over his eyes. Earl Grey's, Mr. Winston Churchill's, Mr. Hareourt's and Mr. John Burns' residences were attacked, and the windows in several Government offices were smashed.

LABOR AND THE PREMIER. "THE GREATEST ISSUE OF ALL—THE NAVY." Received 24, 12.5 a.m. London, November 23. The Chronicle states that Mr. Asquith's statement will give satisfaction to all friends of trade unionism and individual political liberty. The Daily Mail predicts that if returned to power Mr. Asquith will accept a Labor amendment making optional levies compulsory, as was done in the case of the Labor amendments to the Trade Disputes Bill. Mr. Robert Blatchford, in a letter to the Daily Mail, headed, "The greatest issue of all," contends that the Navy's neglected position in the North Sea is precarious. The Germans have strategical advantages of a fortified coast, naval bases, Dreadnought docks, and superiority of destroyers.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. SPEECH BY MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL. PRAISE FOR THE IRISH PARTY. Received 24, 1 a.m. London, November 23. Mr. Winston Churchill, with a large force of police in attendance to safeguard him against the Suffragette disturbances, addressed a crowded meeting at Highbury. He asked: "What is wrong with the wealthy Irishmen in America and Canada helping the Irishmen at Home in a constitutional struggle? The Canadian and British Columbia Premiers and others are contributors and they are not seeking tariff favors in return for the subscriptions. The Irish party alone among political parties seeks no offices, titles, favors, or emoluments. It has labored for thirty years with hope deferred for one cause. The hour is coming for reconciliation of the English and Irish people. Ireland is destined to be free in all matters concerning herself locally, taking her place with the colonies and like the brave Boers in a true indissoluble Union of Empire, a result of which will be to gain the sympathy of the United States, strengthening our international friendship.

LONDON HOLDS THE KEY. DESTROY THE VETO—OR THE COMMONS. Received 24, 1.20 a.m. London, November 23. Mr. Churchill said there was no hatred of the peers as peers among the people. It was the peers' leaders who were responsible for misdeeds, using the peers as the merest tool for party convenience. The country must abolish the veto or dastrov the life of the Commons. He asked how large was the deadweight Tory majority which Lord Lansdowne proposed to employ against the Commons. As long as that vital factor was concealed, the resolution was vague and complicated, panic-stricken trash. He concluded by strongly appealing to London, as holding perhaps the key to victory, to give a verdict for a fair and equal constitution, and to shatter to fragments the harsh and cruel veto.