THE VETO BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 246, 23 February 1911, Page 5

THE VETO BILL

THE LORDS MUST YIELD. COMMITTED POLITICAL SUICIDE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 22, 10.15 p.m. London, February 22. Mr. Asquith received an ovation on introducing the Veto Bill. He said it was admitted that the Lords must yield to the will of the electorates. The rejection of the Budget in 1900 was the most stupendous blunder ever perpetrated by the Lords, who thus commit- * ted political suicide. The assertion that the Government wished to rule by a despotic single chamber was an unsubstantial nightmare. There were conceivable conditions it which a referendum would be a possible expedient in dealing with exceptional cases, but if regarded as a regular parf of the constitution it would reduce the elections to sham parade, and degrade the House of Commons to the level of a talking club. The referendum was more revolutionary than the Veto Bill.

i MR. BALFOUR'S VIEWS. -■> ■ ■ A COMPROMISE IMPOSSIBLE. Received 22, 10.15 p.m. ; ' London, February 22. i Mr. Balfour declared that the general election. was not a decision upon one issue, whereas the referendum was. The Government last week claimed the election as a, decision against preference and tariff reform. By what miracle could the same vote decide details concerning the House of Lords ? He hoped that the controversy would proceed without controversial violence, as was desirable this year, but he would not assent to an agreement imposing a constitutional change which people did not desire. They desired a change, but did not desire a revolutionary change at the bidding of an Irish minority. There were some issues so great that a compromise was impossible. A purely elective second chamber was inconsistent with the predominance of the House of Commons, and unless the Government wished to destroy that predominance it would be folly to throw wholly aside the hereditary prince. ■'*.. THE LABOR PARTY. j ,r " Received 22, 10.15 p.m. >' London, February 22. In the House of Commons, Mr. Ramsay McDonald said the Labor Party objected to the preamble of > the Bill, but would rather.. accept, ft than, forego reform, Mr. Cory intimated that though sympathising with the Bill he would vote against it unless it were made clear that it would not be used to carry Home Rule. t