IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 283, 22 April 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

THE VETO BILL DEBATE. SECOND CLAUSE IN COMMITTEE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, April 20. The House of Commons is engaged in committee on clause 2 of the Veto Bill. Mr. Asquith said he intended to pass this clause within a fortnight and send the measure to the House of Lords on May 1«. GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS NO AMENDMENT. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. Received 21, 10.45 pjn. London, April 21, Mr. Cane's amendment was defeated by 222 to 136, making clause 2 only operative after a dissolution, ensuring that Home Rule, disestablishment, and licensing would be first approved by the electors. Another animated debate took place on the proposal that the clause should be inoperative in the case of Bills extending the duration of Parliament, this being rejected by 235 to 150. Mr. Asquith "said there were' many amendments on the Order Paper. To save i trouble he wished to make it clear that the Government would not accept any. It was impossible to discriminate between constitutional and other changes. The Government would want, among other things, machinery for giving effect to Home Rule for Ireland. It was ridiculous to expect the Government to impose a self-denying ordinance, Mr. Balfour argued that it was monstrous that the Commons should be made omnipotent. OPINION OF FOREIGNERS. London, April 20. The Telegraph is publishing the views of foreign statesmen on the Veto Bill. Count dc Witte, the Russian ex-Minister, gays ■ that, as a Conservative, he sympathises with the House of Lords, and is truly sorry they committed the mistake of rejecting the Budget. Unless he was misinformed, the Upper Chamber had managed to burn their fingers in cold water. The Lords had set their faces against reform which, however, they were now willing to accept. ' INTERNATIONAL -PRIZE COURT. London, April 20. Mr. Guinness, speaking in the House of Commons, said that had the Colonial Offict been closer in touch with overseas opinion it might have secured their representation on the international prize courts. Mr. McKinnon Wood said that reflection would have shown Mr. Guinness that it was hardly likely that foreign nations would grant Britain five or six votes at the court. BYE-ELECTION. London, April 20. The bye-election for Haddingtonshire, caused by the elevation of Mr. Haldane to the peerage, resulted as follows: J. D. Hope (Liberal) 3652, B. H. Blyth 3184. EAST CORK ELECTION. ALLEGED CORRUPTION. Received 21, 11.35 p.m. London, April 21. A large body of police has been drafted into the city for duty at the Court during the hearing of the East Cork election petition. Mr. Tim Healy, for the petitioners, said the election had been won hy means of eleven bands, ten torchlights, 600 free railway tickets, 2000 free drinks, and 284 meals.