MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1918, Page 8

MOTHER COUNTRY.

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM. REPORT OF CONFERENCE. ELECTION BY COMMONS FAVORED. London, April 23. Lord Bryce has presented the report of the conference on the reform of the House of Lords. In a covering letter lie states that, the conference surveyed the whole constitutional position with the view of creating nn efficient second chamber, either by modifying the present House of Lords or by constituting a practically new second chamber. The conference derived great benefit from the study of existing second chambers in foreign countries and the British Dominions. The conference agreed upon making the popular element in the chamber predominant, bnt did not favor nomination by the Crown or direct election on the same basis as the House of Commons, which would render the second chamber little better than a duplicate of the House of Commons. The conference by a large majority adopted the method of election by members of the House of Commons grouped in territorial areas. It also adopted the plan of voting by proportional representation, in order to secure the due representation of all political parties. The conferenco decided to divide Great Britain into thirteen areas corresponding to the ancient divisions of the country, out of which the United Kingdom had grown. The total number of members chosen 011 this plan would he 240, or 273 if Ireland was included. The conference, having thus given a popular character to the chamber, next sought a method of preserving the historical continuity of the new chamber with the ancient House of Lords.

The conference agreed that part of the chamber should be chosen from the peers, and that a small number should be taken from the episcopal bench. In fixing the number from the existing House it was thought proper to make the number larger at the outset, in order to lind room for peers who had been active in public life, than it need be in future years.

The conference recommended SI as the number of these, which would be gradually reduced to 30, the remaining 51 seats becoming ultimately open to persons who need not be peers. Members for this section of the chamber would be chosen by a joint standing committee of both Houses. The tenure of both sections would be twelve years, one-third retiring every four years. Selection by the joint committee would always precede the election of the territorial groups.

If the second chamber should continue its appellate jurisdiction the Law Lords should remain ex-officio members. Members of the Royal House would similarly be retained. Clergy of the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Scottish, and Irish Churches should be eligible for election. The conference discussed the admission of members representing the Overseas Dominions, but the terms of reference precluded a recommendation. The commission, however, trusts the Government will consider the subject.

A joint committee of both Houses should de«ide when the second chamber had power to deal with a Bill in case 3 where doubts arose as to whether it was a purely money Bill. Disagreement between the chambers should also be settled by a joint conference. The question of solving a deadlock by a referendum received considerable support, but the conference rejected the idea.

EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. TURKEY RELUCTANT. A BARBED WIRE JOKE. London, April 25. Lord Newton, in the House of Lords, said he had been twelve months, endeavoring to arrange for an exchange of prisoners with Turkey, which was extremely proud to hold European prisoners and loth to exchange them. Moreover, prisoners were a source of profit to the Turks; who were aware .that their prisoners were well treated in our hands. The Turkish delegates made wild claims regarding the numbers of British prisoners. We calculated that Turkey holds about 8000. The whole battle was fought round the name of one Turk whom Turkey was anxious to get back. The delegates insisted that plain, instead of barbed wire should be putround the camps in which Turkish prisoners were kept. Somebody had apparently read in the papers of "barbed wire disease," whieii is really a nervous breakdown. The/ Turks thought it referred to a disa&se due to barbed wire. It was the first time a joke hal appeared in an International document. HONORS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. London, April 2">. The following New Zealanders have been awarded the Military Cross: Lieut. 0. R. McKenzie (Field Artillery), Lieut. M. C. Milne and Lieut. K. J. Tait (Mounted Rifles), Lieut. E. H. Picot (Mounted Macliine-"uns). Three New Zealamlers have been awarded the Military Medal.