BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8473, 27 June 1907, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM. Received June 26, 7.42 a.m. LONDON, June 25. In the House of Commons, Mi" \. J. Balfour, the ex-Premier, in an elaborate constitutional argument, maintained that the House of Commons was the predominate partner, but was not competent within the term of its own existence to deal with the entire interests of the State without further reference to the people, whi-:h was the trustee for posterity. "Nobody knows better than Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman," continued Mr Balfour, "that it requires less than five years for a Government to get out of touch with the people." The speaker concluded by asking why, if Ministers were sincere, they should indefinitely defer their Bill, i It was foreshadowed at Shackleton that the Premier wished to end the Lords. Discussion in the lobbies showed that the Liberals are greatly divided. Some- declared that the proposals would delay legislation. Their chief fear is that the people at the dissolution would give a verdict in favour of leaving well alone, or at least that the majority will be small, and the Lords continue m existence.

THE UPPER HOUSE DEFENDED. Received June 26, 8.49 a.m. LONDON, June 25. Mr Balfour, at the outset of his remarks, stated that as far as his own action was concerned no defence was required. What he did had been done publicly. The course which the Lords took had been taken in public, and the people were far from agreeing with Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man's violent epithets against that House. He thought that the amendments made in the Education Bill by tne House of Lords were great improvements. In the course of his speech, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman declared against the principle of a referendum.