IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 285, 25 April 1913, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

TARIFF REFORM. By Cable—l'ress Association—Copyright. Received 24. 10.50 p.m. London, April 24. In the House of Lords, Lord St. Aldwvn, criticising the. Collection of Taxes Bill, said that though he was not in accord with lurid" reform, he was strongly of opinion that the present system of j taxation was imperfect and was becoming less fair every year. The time would soon come when some sort of indirect taxes must he imposed to enable the country to bear its increasing expenditure. REFORM OF THE LORDS. ENTIRELY NEW HOUSE. AN ELECTIVE CHAMBER. London, April 15. The Hailv News and Leader publishes an outline of a measure under which it is proposed to reform the House of Lords, Tlu; Bill, which is now being considered by a sub-committee of the Cabinet, provides for a House of from lot) to 200 members, who, with trifling exceptions, will all be elected by constituencies based on (lie Parliamentary register. The choice of candidates will be restricted to the size of the constituencies, which will tend to limit candidature to persons of acknowledged position. Members of this new House will be styled Lords of Parliament, and in order that Labor may have full opportunity of securing direct representation, it is possible that the Lords will receive payment. The new Chamber will have no power in matters of finance, and the right to reject or to amend ordinary Bills in a first session will be .subject always to a joint sitting of both Houses to decide disputed points. To this extent the Parliament Act will be superseded. In all cases in which the Government secures a majority at the first sitting the two years' delay that is necessary under the present system will be reduced by from six to nine months.