BRITISH POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 12, 8 July 1911, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

THE VETO BILL. SOME PEERS' ARGUMENTS. By Qa.ble. —Press Association.—Copyright London, July 7. In the Bouse of Lords, Lord Weardale Tesumed the debate on the Veto Bill. He declared that the Government had made a profound mistake in not adopting the principle of the referendum. Regarding Lord Morley's contention that the referendum would be destructive of representative government, he had seen this contention take many forms. Twenty-five years ago Liberal opinion had its say whatever quarter it came from, and it influenced Liberal action. They nowadays had the closure, caucus, and group systems; hence, owing to altered conditions, the referendum was now indispensable. It was necessary for the security of the State. He aTgued that representative government was now tending not to liberty but to oligarchy. The country had accepted the principle of Home Rule, but that did not imply all forms of home rule. The Government claimed a'mandate for this Bill, but this mandate did not imply an unalterable, ga&psEtact ineasure. Passing the Bill would open the floodgates of faction strife and perhaps reaction. He appealed to the Government to- reconsider the matter, and to make a final settlement. Lord Haldane replied that the referendum had been rejected systematically by. democracies right through modern times. It was only used in Australia when the two Houses differed regarding the constitution. (Lour Unionist cheers.) The Government would not have the referendum under any conceivable circumstances. Hiord Selborne declared that the referendum had come to stay. Aus : tralia's remarkable experience had proved it ft practical instrument of democratic government, and that it did not impair the main features of representative government. Lord Lansdowne's amendment was carried by 253 votes to 46. Lords Courtney, Weardale, and the Bishop of Ripon abstained from voting. The Archbishops were absent The Bishop of Birmingham voted with the minority. THE INSURANCE BILL. London. July 6. The House of Commons entered on the committee stage of the National Insurance Bill. Notice was given of an enormous number of amendments. Mr. Lloyd-George announced that alterations would not necessarily be regarded as defeats. #' > ' UNIFICATION OF LAWS. London, July 0. Mr. Asquith, in Teply to Mr. Randall, liberal member for Thornbury, said that he did not think any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider I the unification of the laws of the Empire. A BY-ELECTION. London, July fi. The voting in the Tradeston (Glasgow) election was: White (Liberal) 3869, Watts (Unionist) 2783. THE INSURANCE BILL. THE SPEAKER AND THE VETO BILL. Received 7, 10.30 p.m. London, July 7. The House of Commons passed the second clause of the Insurance Bill, and in Committee of Ways and Means agreed that-the financial resolution of Mr. Philip Snowden ineffectually attempted to cast the whole cost upon the State, he having argued that the privations of the poor would otherwise be aggravated. In the House oi Lords the committee stage of the Parliament Bill was terminated. Lord Newton's amendment, exempting from its operation until after the general election, any Bill further limiting the legislative power of the House, was withdrawn with a view to introducing it as a separate clause. Lord Morley remarked that this was the only amendment not directly contradicting the fundamental principle of the Bill, hut, taken in conjunction with Lord ; Lansdowne's resolution, the Government was unable to accept it. Lord Cromer s amendment was adopted with Lord St. Aldwyn's addition, giving the Speaker, besides a vote, a casting vote. Unionist newspapers state that considerable importance is attached to Lord Peel's speech urging the Government to give the Speaker a committee to assist him and not to jeopardise his impartial standing by making him the sole authority in disputes between the two Houses. Lord Morley's was no unfriendly reception of Lord Newton's amendment, and was couple with a desire on the Unionist side to fee it. presentJd not complicated by other issues, and hopes were raised of its serving as the basis of a compromise. The Times remarks that there is lit- ' tie doubt, if the Unionist leaders acquiesced with the House of Commons in rejecting their main amendments, the Government would accept Lord Newton's amendment, which, with the proposal to give the Speaker the assistance of a committee, represents the pivot of the ultimate arrangement.