Lords' Surrender

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 43, 12 August 1911, Page 5

Lords' Surrender

BAFFLED RAGE. I INTENSE EXCITEMENT. DIVISION NEARLY EQUAL. THIRTY UNIONISTS LAST MOMENT JOIN THE GOVERNMENT. AND STOP CREATION OF 500 PEERS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 11, 10 p.m. London, August 11. In the House of Lords Lord Selborne, in closing the debate, made a vehement denunciation of Lord Rosebery's attitude. The country was safer with a recognised single chamber system than the proposed emasculated House of Lords. He agreed with the other House of Commons amendments. There was intense excitement when Lord Loreburn put the question whether the House agreed with Lord Moray's motion not to insist on Lord Lansdowne's amendment re excluding Home Rule.

The Ministerialists cried "Content," whilst the Halsburyites in a chorus cried "Non-content."

Many- Unionists, with a few others, joined the Cabinet Ministers and Privy Councillors behind the Throne to watch the division. The opposing forces seemed practically equal. The Halsburyites, If anything, seemed the more numerous. Eleven Bishops, accompanied by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, went into the Government lobby. Seeing the danger, thirty Unionists at the last moment joined the Ministerialists. There was profound silence when Lord Loreburn announced the result: For the motion, 131; against, 114. The result was greeted with a few Ministerial cheers, and Opposition hisses. THE KING'S POSITION. VIOLENT SPEECHES. GOVERNMENT ACTION CONDEMNED. BISHOPS VOTE WITH THE GOVERNMENT. Received 11, 10.35 p.m. London, August 11. The diplomatic gallery in the House of Lords and the Chamber itself were crowded. During the debate Lord Morley ridiculed the proposal that the Government in November should have suggested to the King to see the Opposition leaders. Replying to Lord St. Aldwyn, Lord Morley said the Sovereign had a communication with Mr. Balfour and Lord Lansdowne the other. He was unable to say whether the same opportunity was given in November. Lord Lansdowne interjected: No sueh opportunity was given! Lord Camperdown announced that he would support the Government, though he detested the Bill.

The Duke of Norfolk immediately declared that, despite his promise to Lord Lansdowne, he would vote with Lord Halsbury, in order to cancel Lord Cam-

perdown's vote. Lord Halifax declared similarly. The Archhishop of Canterbury said he had hoped to abstain from voting, but the callousness and levity wherewith some of the peers contemplated the creation of 500 peers, which would make the House and the country the laughing stock of the dominions overseas, caused him to support the Government. Lord Rosebery hotly denounced the Government's behaviour towards a young and inexperienced King, who had only been four or five months on the Throne, but the Bill must pass. It would leave the House some force to resist the Government's dangerous measures. He voted for the Bill, hoping the Empire would be spared a scandal which would weaken the hold of the centre of the Empire upon the component parts. IF THE BILL WERE DEFEATED. London, August 10. Lord Morley, replying to Lord Lansdowne, said if the Bill was defeated sufficient peers would be created to guard against future defeat. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. London, August 10. It is stated that the Government will refuse to exempt Irish members from the Payment of Members Bill, and that the Irish Party has decided in the Mrcumstances not to take hostile action.

Received 12, 12.45 a.m. London, August 11

The House of Commons carried Mr. Lloyd-George's motion in favor of payment of members. THE COALMINERS BILL. London, August 10. The Government has re-introduced the baths clause into the Coalmines Bill in an amended form. It is stipulated that owners shall provide baths if two-thirds of the men desire them, the men paying half the cost of maintenance, with a maximum of l>4d weekly. Several members of the House of Commons argued that installation of baths would cost £50,000, and ruin many businesses. It was impossible, they said, to <*et workers to use baths except during working hours. SCOTTISH HOME RULE. London, August 10. Sir H. Dalziel, Liberal member for Kirkcaldy Burghs, will introduce a Scottish Home Rule Bill on Wednesday. He proposes a Parliament at Edinburgh comprising 144 members, being two members for each of the present constituencies. He does not propose a change of the present representation at Westminster until the Federal system haa been adopted.