Reform of the Lords

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 194, 25 November 1910, Page 5

Reform of the Lords

FEMALE SUFFRAGISTS' METHODS. VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION. By Cable—Press Association-Copyright. London, November 23. The Home Secretary is not prosecuting for simple obstruction, but is taking proceedings in cases of malicious damage. Early to-day, which was foggy, the suffragettes attacked the Premier's residence with stones and weights, and smashed the lower windows. Some were arrested. Mr. Birrell is confined to bed as the result of the assault by suffragettes. MR. ASQUITH AXD LABOR. London, November 23. ( The statement issued by the Labor Party's joint board was a compromise with Keir Hardie's Socialist section, •which insisted on the complete repeal of the Osborne judgment. The mining members are satisfied with the Premiers' announcement. The Daily News says that though the principle of Mr. Asquith's policy is clear, its actual value as a solution is largely dependent on the way in which it is applied. Many and various solutions, adequate and inadequate, might he fixed •within Mr. Asquith's framework of principle. It will be in the power of the Labor Party to secure details, which are ■what it is entitled to expect, and the party can count on the sympathy of all good Liberals. Mr. Hemmerde, M.P. for Denbigh East, will oppose Lord Charles Beiesford at Portsmouth. THE PEERS UNITING. London, November 23. Lord George Hamilton, speaking at Acton, said that he, like Lord Cromer and others, felt they must obliterate all fiscal differences and throw their whole energy against the forces of unrest and disquietude. SELF-GOVERNMENT FOR IRELAND. LIBERALS AND HOME RULE. London, November 23. The Irish League has issued a manifesto in which it attacks Lord Lansdowne and other lords in connection with their relations with Ireland, and recalls Mr. Asquith's Albert Hall statement that the Liberal Party's policy was full self-government for Ireland. The manifesto adds: "Victory in this election will be the final and decisive victory for Home Rule." LORD LANSDOWNE'S PROPOSALS. London, November 23. The House of Lords is now debating Lord Lansdowne's resolutions. THE ISSUES CONFUSED. London, November 23. Mr. Balfour, addressing the City of London Conservative Association, said that when a man inade a speech setting citizens against each other he was no democrat, but a traitor to the democracy. The Irish Party had thrown in its lot with the Radicals. That was the very essence of the present situation. The knot of the whole problem was that the House of Lords was to be destroyed because a section of the electors wanted Home Rule. A "RATIONAL AND REASONABLE" RESOLUTION. LORD CREWE ON THE " STARTLING NOVELTY." Received 24, 9.30 p.m. London, November 24. Lord Lansdowne said the idea of a joint sitting was eminently rational and reasonable, instead of one House putting its foot down on the other and keeping it there. It was desirable that the referendum be used; besides, in the case of grave difference as a check on legislation even when they had agreed. Sometimes it was essential that the country should declare its voice without the trouble and expense of an election. One difficulty related to the representation to joint sittings. The resolutions were so drafted as to leave'that open for future consideration.

Lord Crewe described the resolutions as startling novelties. The referendum was now a favorite child of the Lords, but it would be difficult and costly. The tariff ought to be foremost in the matters submitted to a referendum, but it seemed that only the Liberals' measures were to be subject thereto. A UNIONIST APPEAL. ~ SIGNED BY SEVEN PEERS. Received 24, 10.10 p.m. London, November 24. Lord Cromer, Lord George Hamilton, Lord Goschen, Lord Robert Cecil, Lord Hugh Cecil, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and Lord Avebury, on behalf of the Constitutional Free Trade Association, appeal to all moderate men, in view of the threatened single Chamber constitution, to throw the weight of their influence against the Government's dangerous policy by supporting the Unionist candidates in every constituency. THE DEBATE TX THE LORDS. A CHALLENGE TO LORD CREWE. Received 24, 10.10 p.m. London, November 24. In the House of Lords. Lord Weardale vigorous!-,- protested against the Government's policy. Such momentous changes in the constitution should have been fully debated by both Houses. The Liberals had a strong case. Then it would have heen reflected on throughout the **umtrv. and ther nAt haTe arrived at

a settlement satisfactory to all parties. (Opposition cheers). The country should not be hustled. He added that if Lord Crewe and his other colleagues allowed the Bill to be regarded as an unchangeable ultimatum they would throw thousands of electors into the ranks of the Opposition. SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD-GEORGE. IS MR. BALFOUR A DEMOCRAT? REFERENDUM A CLASS PROPOSAL. FAVORS THE WEALTHY. Received 24, 10.45 p.m. London, November 24. Mr. Lloyd-George, in a speech at St. Pancras, asked Mr. Balfour if he, calling himself a Democrat, would explain why he and Lord Lansdowne were placing hurdles, ditches and wire entanglements in the path of government by which the people must travel. A referendum meant that the party which was backed by wealth and vested interests would crush the democracy by sheer weight of gold. For the leisured man voting was a recreation, but it was otherwise for the workman. The Liberals would have none of Lord Lansdowne's devices, but demanded equal treatment, not merely of parties, but between the ideas of government. SPEECH BY MR. DILLON. Received 24, 10.10 p.m. London. November 24. Mr. Dillon, speaking at the Irish League's demonstration at Bermondsey, said that since the Act of Union had been passed the cause of liberty in Ireland and the liberty of the democracy in England were indissolubly bound together. The Liberals had been pinned now to a square issue, "and they are now so bound to us that we must sink or swim together." AFRAID OF THE DEMOCRACY. " DEPREDATORS AND SOCIALISTIC TRAITORS." Received 25, 12.10 a.m. London, November 24. Mr. Lloyd-George continued: Germany had tired of tariff reform, swallowed Socialism, and felt its bad effects. Lord Lansdowne was endeavoring to keep the democracy at the end of a long pole, 1o prevent it biting. Mr. F. Smith, at Highbury, said if the present toe-the-line Government were returned the electors would never have an- j other chance of pronouncing on Home Rule. He appealed to them to sweep away the crew of depredators and Socialistic traitors who alone to-day supported the Government of England. SUFFRAGETTES' INDISCRETION. Received 25, 12.10 a.m. London, November 24. The Times states that the Suffragists have not vet fullv realised the significant fact that if the present situation of parties is unaltered Mr. Asquith's promise will enable Parliament to make a stupendous change, altering the basis of electorates. Woman suffrage is now an issue in the elections. FROM MR. CHURCHTLL TO HIS CONSTITUENTS. THE LORDS' VETO CONDEMNED. THE PRESENT OPPORTUNITY TO END IT. Received 23, 12.10 a.m. London, November 24. Mr. Churchill, in a letter to his constituents, said: "None can persuade the Tory party to surrender the veto which has poisoned politics, perverted social balance, and handicapped the constitution." The opportunity of ending the oppression of the veto was within the grasp of the electorates, and he was sure they would not fail in the matter. THIRD READING OF THE BUDGET. DISSOLUTION NEXT MONDAY. Received 25, 12.10 a.m. London, November 24. The Budget was read a third time in the House of Commons without division. The prorogation and dissolution will take place on Monday. A LIFELONG HOME-RULER. Received 25, 12.40 a.m. London, November 24. Lord Weardale said he had always favored a referendum, which was neither so difficult nor expensive as was represented. The cost would not exceed a quarter of a million. It was sometimes said that a referendum would never carry Home Rule. He was a lifelong Home Ruler, but he believed with the late Mr. Gladstone that Home Rule would be obtainable only by convincing the people of its necessity and justice, not by irregular methods and force. (Cheers). Had proper methods been pursued the country would have seen Home Rule carried in a way satisfactory to everybody. He appealed to the Government to take the referendum into consideration. He believed the people themselves, when they examined the matter, would conclude that the most democratic and the wisest and easiest solution was to refer grave disputes to the judgment of the people. The Archbishop of Canterbury considered the issue was being forced too hastily. Lord Ribblcsdale preferred the resolutions to the Bill. Lord St. Aldwyn a proved a well-consid-ered referendum. The debate was adjourned. > CTTY OF LONDON CANDIDATES. SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. INSOLENCE OF THE REDMONDITES. Received 25, 1.20 a.m. London, November 24. The City of London re-adopted Mr. A. J. Balfour and Sir F. G. Bamhury as

candidates amidst the greatest enthusiasm. Lord Aldenham, the chairman, predicted that in the event of a fight the candidates would be returned with such a majority as the world had never seen. llr. Balfour made a stirring appeal to the moderates to follow the example of the city. He would not allow all that was best in Conservatism, Unionism and Liberalism to be shamed and destroyed. He was proud to call himself a Democrat, and it was a Democrat's duty to tell the truth to the people—(Cheers)—and to submit the real elements of the problem calmly and reasonably. After denouncing the attempts to inflame the citizens, he added: "The Redmondites, in language of unsurpassed insolence, made the Radicals toe the line, and now they have exuberantly declared an alliance with them." ffi jj *|

THE GLASGOW DIVISIONS. Received 25, 1.15 a.m. London, November 24. Owing to the introduction of a Labor candidate in the Bridgetown division at Glasgow, the Liberals at Blackfriars (Glasgow) threaten to oppose Mr. Barnes (Labor). Mr. Balfour's party threaten that in the event of a contest they will contest seven Glasgow divisions. MESSRS REDMOND AND O'BRIEN. CONTEST THE CORK CONSTITUENCY. Received 25, 12.20 a.m. London, November 24. Mr. William Redmond opposes Mr. O'Brien for Cork. MR. O'BRIEN OPENS THE. BALL Received 25, 1.15 a.m. London, November 24. Mr. O'Brien, at Cork, said the country was plunged into this election because the Redmondites knew that Ireland was slipping from them. Cork would deliver the first blow, and the monster of "Molly Maguirism," place-hunting, and sectarian strife would never raise his head again in the south.