BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 982, 28 February 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

RADICAL DEPUTATIONS TO MR ASQUITH. WHAT THEY FEAR. United Press Association —Bj Electric Telegraph Copyright. < LONDON, February 25. The Right Hon. J. A. Pease, late Chief Liberal Whip, who lost his seat at the general election, and who, if elected for the Rotherham division of Yorkshire (Sir W. H. Holland, the sitting member, having resigned in his favour), would have become Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in a speech at Rotherham, said the Government intended to offer proposals for the reconstitution of the House of Lords. This statement, coupled with Colonel Seely's declaration that reconstitution and limitation of the Lords' veto were interdependent matters. an,l the belief that Sir Edward of State fur Foreign Affairs), is preparing a scheme for an eleccive second Chamber, whk-h, it is feared,. would give greater power to the Lords, is the mainspring of the two Radical deputations who (as cabled) waited on the Prime Minister with the object of endeavouring to induce him to drop the idea of reconstitution of the Upper Chamber.

REJECTED. A MEETING OF RADICALS. Received February 27, 5 p.m. LONDON, February 27. In the House of Commons an amendment advocating a hop duty m the interests of Kentish growers was rejected by 228 votes to 285. The Address-in-Reply then passed without further discussion. Sir John Dilke presided at a meeting of thirty Radicals, when it was resolved that though Mr Pease's speech implied reform of the Lords anything beyond a limitation of the veto would find no large amount of support among Liberals. Mr Asquith (Premier) informed a deputation of North of England members of Parliament that, the Gsvernraent attached great weight to their opinion, because the North saved the situation at the general election. He would lay their views before Cabinet.

THE GOVERNMENT'S FATE. CLIMAX TO BE REACHED TO-. D*Y. GOVERNMENT FOLLOWERS REBELLIOUS. THE "SPECTATOR" ON MR LLOYD-GEORGE. A MOST OFFENSIVE ACTION. Receive.? February 27, 5 p.m. LONDON, February 27. It is expected that the climax of the Government's fate will be i reached on Monday. j The "Standard" says that the majority of Mr Asquith's followers are already in rebellion. The "limes'" Parliamentary correspondent declares that the predominating view in the Cabinet recognise that the country is opposed to a single Chamber, and it is considered that the abolition of the veto might be deemed in effect a proposal for a single Chamber. The Government and Cabinet believe that the submission of such a proposal alone would be courting defeat at the general election. Commenting on these remarks, "The Times" states that the Government are seeking to hide virtual* abolition of the Lords by wrapping their proposal in the guise of reform. An attempt to make the advocates of reform swallow the veto will prove difficult. The "Nation" and "Daily News" favour sending the Lords' question to a referendum. Dissentient Radicals are determined to make Mr Dalziell's amendment the occasion of a demonstration against the Government. The Redmondites will meet on Monday to decide whether or not they will support Mr Dalziell. It is understood that Mr ualfour is piepared to give Mr Asquith some support for urgent finance. The "Spectator" says that it is most offensive that the second Minister of a British Cabinet should speak of the German peoples' food as Mr Lloyd-George did on Thursday. There is nothing that the poor men of all countries resent more than having their food ridiculed.