IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 287, 28 April 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

|: THE HOME RULE BILL. MINIMUM WAGE ENACTMENT UNPOPULAR. A DEFIANCE OF ECONOMIC LAWS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 27, 9.30 p.m. London, April 27. In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith informed Mr. Craig that he was unable to undertake the reform of the Lords before the introduction of the Home Rule Bill. Mr. Will Crooks' resolution in favor of the legislative establishment of a minimum wage of thirty shillings weekly for every adult worker was talked out. Mr. H. J. Tennant said the Government was unable to accept the amendment, inasmuch as such legislation would be in defiance of economic laws, and would prove disastrous. He calculated that the resolution would involve an annual amount of £88,000,000. They must leave the settlement of the rates of wages to the free play of economic forces.

THE VETO BILL DEBATE. A REFERENDUM AMENDMENT'REJECTED. A REVOLUTIONARY PROPOSAL. Received 29, 9.30 p.m. London, April 27. In the Veto Bill debate, Mr. G. Cave's amendment, providing that after a Bill has been passed thrice in the House of Commons and rejected in the House of Lords it should be submitted to a referendum, was negatived by 268 to 164.

Sir H. Samuel declared that unless constantly used the referendum would be no remedy for a deadlock, and if constantly used it would become intolerable.

Mr. Balfour emphasised that the referendum should only be used on great and rare occasions. The referendum was more necessary, as the party system was getting more rigid. Mr. Asquith declared that the amendment was more revolutionary than anything which had been submitted to the House. He deprecated casting upon the people the burden of deciding what their representatives were sent to decide. A FORECAST BY THE TIMES. REMARKABLE LACK OF INTEREST. ! Received 27, 11-> p.m. --• -:, i ,',->- \ . London, April's?.. The Times forecasts that the Veto Bill will be read a second time in the House of Lords before the Coronation, and that Unionist amendments will be proposed after the coronation with a view of excluding Home Rule from the operation of the Bill. Moderate Liberals hope that if these matters are discussed after the Coronation a reasonable spirit will be displayed. One of the most curious features of the situation is the lack of interest or excitement in the country reported by Commoners on both sides who were recently in touch with their constituencies. The explanation is that the alteration of the constitutional machinery affects the electorate only indirectly. Interest will be aroused only by the measures passed through the altered machinery.