LORD LANSDOWNE'S "LORDS."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 297, 10 May 1911, Page 5

LORD LANSDOWNE'S "LORDS."

A HOUSE THAT MAY BE TRUSTED. HEREDITY NO QUALIFICATION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 9, 10.40 p.m. London, May 9. The House of Lords was packed when Lord Lansdowne introduced his reform scheme. Amongst the Commoners filling the small side galleries allotted to them, besides several membcrcs of the Government, was Sir R. B. Finlay, who is regarded as the principal draughtsman of the Bill, which was read a first time. Lord Lansdowne urged that reform should proceed simultaneously with the measure dealing with the relations of the two houses. The Unionists desired "a second chamber commanding the confidence of the country by its ability, experiencß and authority, and, above all, by its independence—a chamber which may be trusted to use its powers fairly towards both great parties and be in close touch with public opinion without being at the mercy of popular caprice; a chamber strong enough to make a stand where there was reason to believe the country had not had an opportunity of expressing its will clearly and deliberately." '

He did not claim that the proposed chamber should have co-ordinate rights with the House of Commons. Heredity should no longer entitle any man to a seat. Thus only those would be eligible who possessed certain statutory qualifications, which, with election by thei,r compeers, would prove their fitness and eligibility. Schedules enumerating qualifications included peers who had held political office or important appointments at Home or abroad; membership of the Privy Council, the Diplomatic Service, or Army Council; captains of the Navy and colonels on the active list.

SOME CHANGES INEVITABLE. GOVERNMENT DECLINES TO ACCEPT THE BILL. . Received 9, 11,10 p.m. London, May 9. Lord Lansdowne, continuing, said the' Bill proposes that' Crown nominations be proportionate to the strength of the parties in the House of Commons; the election of 120 representative men by electors of all colleges composed of commoners, each college electing three to twelve; any peer to be among the eligibles; the order of retirement to be determined, firstly, by ballot; archbishops to sit during the tenure of their sees; and the law lords for life; elections to be in accordance with the Order-in-Coun-cil, with representation of minorities; the creating of new peerages not to exceed five in one year, and any peer, unless he be a Lord of Parliament, to be eligible for the Commons. Lord Lansdowne, in emphasising the gravity of the change, reminded those who possibly regarded the Bill as almost I a betrayal, that some changes of the sort were almost inescapable. This Bill was in the interest of the stability of some institutions which had never been threatened as they are by this movement. He mentioned joint sittings of the Houses, or, as a last resort, a referen- ' dum. He invited Lord Morley to disclose the Government's solution of the matter. Lord Morley admitted that Lord Lansdowne had taken a bold, frank and possibly useful course. The Government did not desire to obstruct the Bill, but was unable to accept it as a solution, for it retained the hereditary principle. The Bill was so complicated that if submitted to a referendum it would bring the referendum into disrepute.

OTHER DETAILS. London, May 8. Lord Lansdowne proposes that the new House of Lords should consist of 100 Members elected by the hereditary peers, 100 Crown nominations through the Prime Minister, and 120 elected by outside constituencies. The above are to hold office for twelve years, one-fourth retiring every third year. Seats will also be found for three Princes of the blood, two archbishops, five bishops elected by the entire episcopal bench, sixteen law Lords and appeal judges, making a total of 346. Lord Morley to-night declared in the House of Lords that the Government ■was unable to approve of any of Lord Lansdowne's proposals.