REFORM OF THE LORDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 251, 2 March 1911, Page 5

REFORM OF THE LORDS

TORY SPLIT DENIED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, February 28. A meeting of Unionist members ■of Parliament was held to consider the reform of the House of Lords. The alleged split in the ranks is denied. Differences had arisen over the proposed changes, ind there was a complaint by the rank and file that the leaders had not submitted a definite plan. There is every prospect of a settlement. "UTMOST LOYALTY AND CONFI- • DENCE." London, February 28. The official account of the full meeting of Unionist members shows there is the utmost loyalty and confidence in the leaders of the party. Sir Acland Hood, member for Wellington (Somerset), explained the lines of Lord Lansdowne's Bill, which the meeting unanimously and cordially accepted. SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. London, February, 28. . In the debate on the Parliament Bill Mr. Balfour declared tttat : reform of the House of Lords was needed, and admitted that no reform would be fair or lasting which stereotyped the Tory majority there. The second Chamber should represent the best elements in the country. The nation would require to know what common ground existed between the two great parties before the Government would be permitted to carry the present Bill by methods of unparalleled violence, even using the Coronation as a weapon in political controversy. NO NEW FEATURES. Received 1, 10.50 p.m. London, March 1. The veto debate was continued without eliciting any new features. Lord Lyttelton and Colonel Seely were the principal speakers. NO COHERENT POLICY. ALLEGED MISLEADING REPORT. Received 2, 12.5 a.m. London, March 1. The Times declares that both the Cabinet and the Unionists are equally destitute of a coherent and generally accepted plan of reform of the Lords. The Times also says that yesterday's official report ,of the Unionist,, meeting was intentionally misleading, and that the meeting was adjourned until par--ticulars o£ Lord Lansdowne's Bill were known. •