BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10007, 1 April 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

DEBcVTE CONTINUED. LABOUR MEMBERS DESIRE ABOLITION. United Press Association—fly Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received March 31, 10 a.m. LONDON, March 30. The debate on Mr Asquith's motion was continued in the House of Commons. Mr R. C. Munro-Ferguson, Liberal member for Leith Burghs, expressed the Moderate Liberal views, namely, that reform of the Second Chamber should precede definition of its powers. Mr C. N. Barnes, Labour member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow, urged the abolition of the House of Lords.

UNIONIST AMENDMENT. Received March 31, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, March 30. The Right Hon. Sir Robert Finlay, Unionist member for Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities, and formerly Attorney-General in the Balfour Government, has given notice to move from the First Opposition Bench the following amendment to Mr Asquith's resolution: — "That this House regards a strong, efficient Second Chamber as necessary, and is willing to consider proposals for reform, but declines proposals for destroying the usefulness of any Second uhamber, however constituted, and removing the only safeguard against great changes being made by the Government of the day, not only without the consent, but againat the wishes of a majority of the electors." The Whips have arranged that this amendment shall be moved to-mor-row, and that a division shall take place on Monday next

THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE. MR ASQUITH'S RESOLUTIONS. PRESS COMMENT, Received March 31, 11.45 a.m. LONDON, March 30. The "Daily Chronicle'' agrees witn Mr Redmond, leader of the Nationalist party, that when the Lords reject the Premier's Jresolutions,. Mr ABquith should secure the King's promise to use the Royal prerogative and then dissolve. "The Chronicle" disagrees with Mr Redmond's idea that no other measure should delay dissolution, and urged that it is absurd to fight the Lords by dropping the Budget which precipitated the crisis. "The Graphic" says: "Mr Asquith has not indicated, as he proraised to do, proposals of reform, but has simply attacked the House of Lords as constituted." Several newspapers comment on the lack of enthusiasm shown during the debate on the veto resolutions. Thirty amendments are to bejiroposed to the resolutions. Mr Storey, Unionist, urges that preference should be given to social xeforms. "The Standard" declares that the extremists are dissatisfied with Mr Asquitn's idea of reforming the House of Lords. The Moderates urge the amalgamation of the reform issue with the limitation of the veto.