Tory Camp Divided

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 250, 1 March 1911, Page 5

Tory Camp Divided

A FIERCE WAR WAGING. MR. BALFOUR'S BACK TO THE WALL. YOUNG BLOODS PROVE DIFFICULT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 1, 12.5 a.m. London, February 28. The Daily News says that at one moment only one Tory was present at yesterday's sitting of the House of Commons, and that was Lord Ronaldshay, The desertion of the House was due to the fierce war raging in the Tory camp, Mr. Balfour and his friends fighting with their backs to the wall against the younger Tories, who favor an elective second chamber, and the elimination of the hereditary principle. The Daily Mail confirms the statement that some younger Unionists favor a purely elective basis, with a period—a Beptennate or a decade —without limitation of the second Chamber's existing powers. "A PERFECT WIFE." SPEECH BY MR. HALDANE. WHAT THE LORDS SHOULD RESEMBLE. Received 1, 12.5 a.m. London, February 28. In the House of Commons Mr. Haldane, continuing the debate, declared that a second Chamber, properly constituted," should be sympathetic. Like a perfect wife, it would comfort and warn, but would not command. He added that the Government was pledged to use the Parliament Bill as a stepping stone for the reform of the second Chamber, and quoted Mr. Asquith's speech last March. This reform was urgent. He concluded that it was conferring on the other House a great power to enable it to reject a measure thrice. The Laborites. Nationalists, and others continued the debate. The House was not crowded, and the attendance at the dinner hour was below a quorum.

ANOTHER SUGGESTED REFORM. ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL LEGISLATURES. Received 1, 12.5 a.m. London, February 28. Writing in the Times, the Duke of Argyll suggests the establishment of local legislatures, similar to the system in the United States, governing a small area only, whicjj jsroirld secure the paramountry of thet' Union .Government. Unions of counties could be represented in the House of Lords, and have subordinate legislative powers.

NEWSPAPER OPINIONS. ' AN ELECTIVE SECOND CHAMBER ESSENTIAL. Received 1, 12.5 a.m. London, February 28. The Glasgow Herald says the conviction is spreading that a purely elective second Chamber is essential, and that the Lords' reform will be useless unless it is approved. The bulk of the Liberal schemes were based on Lord Lansdowne's and Lord Curzon's proposals, which arc dead. Large constituencies, with several members elected by proportional representation, would go far to free the second Chamber from ordinary party di-

visions. LABOR MEMBERS. London, February 27. A clause in the Labor Party's Osborne Bill provides that a trade union acting alone or in conjunction with other unions may apply funds to secure the return of and maintain members of Parliament or other public bodies. NO LABOR AMENDMENTS. London, February 27. The Laborites have decided not to move amendments on the second reading of the Veto Bill. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, in moving his amendment, denounced the stereotyping of an unwritten constitution, and said that if the spirit of conference prevailed there would yet be room for a settlement. Mr. Haldane said that without the Veto Bill the Government was unable to negotiate on equal terms.