BRITISH POLITICS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10180, 4 March 1911, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

SENSATION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

MR BALFOUR'S CHARGE OF FRAUD. (Received March o r 9 a.m.) - LO:Vi>J:\,-Anarch 2. In the Hou:.:o oi C0:..i10.u, iVtr Balfour, Laader ox .no oppcoition, in his closing speech, on the Veto Bill, caused excitement by declaring that the Government was setting up'a Single Chamber Government in order to pass Home Rule for Ireland by fraud. ' This roused the Ministerialists, who shouted "Withdraw!" The Opposition cheered the assertion. The.Speaker (the Right Hon. J. W. Lowther) held that the use of the word "fraud." when applied, to a party, was permissible.

A SIGNIFICANT REMARK. (Received Last iNight, 11).20 o'clock.) LONDON, March 3. | The Pall Mall Gazette, in quoting a.' remark by the Right Hon. W. Runciman that it will be time to parley when the Opposition propose a Second Chamber, which will add and. not take away from the representative character of the Parliamentary institution, and not thwart but give effect to the wjll of the people, says it is interesting as the first responsive sequel to the Unionist invitation to settle the question on an agreed basis.

THE VETO BILL

' READ A-SECOND TIME

(Received Last Night, 10.25 o'clock.) I . LONDON, March 3. The Veto Bill was read a second time by 368 to 243 votes. The majority included seventy-two Nationalists, six O'Brienites, and thirty-eight Labour members, while forty-two members Daired. The Right Hon. *A. J. .Balfour, Leader of the Unionists, in the course of his closing speech said that though a democratic form of government was the only possiblo one a community like ours could follow, any reform of the Second Chamber must start with the assumption that we had nothing to do with the heredity principle; ; "We inherited it," he said; "let it be our servant and no longer our master." The common bond of Empire -'was based on heredity, and when dealing with the Lords they should u?B"the principle wisely, and not to the extent now used, otherwise it would'be impossible to avoid a Second Chamber rivalling the first. Let the constitutional'check be applied to the Liberals and Unionists alike, only let it not be a sham party system, but one tending to work out in something like a rough equality between the two opposing camps. It would bo of immense advantage and absolutely neccessary to the stability of the administration. Continuing, Mr Balfour said he would rather have a bad, ..Government in office, with some sort of security of .tenure, if only brief, than the buying froni day;,tp day of this or that Httlisection by; administrative concessions, The .Government was hot to be trusted to approach an amendment of tti'o Constitution seeing that it was not independent. It was coerced by the Irish, otherwise the Bill wo u 1.1 never have appeared in, -its preseit shape. The Government proposed to have an interval, without an efficient Second Chamber, during which a great' change'in .the constitution would be carried. AJ safe constitutional system of check/and supervision was necessary* te? ■ prevent. aberration' on the part 6f:the,}representative body. The result of tne ■• present proposal would probably be disastrous to the country. said Mr Balfour, "it -will be discreditable to„ yourselves. You are doing what you are not: entitled to do. You are using the power derived by the transfer of a relatively few; votes at the general elections from one side to the other to make fundamental changes in the constitution, openly saying that you will'force them on the Upper House by coercion- as you imposed- them' upon the country hyfraud. (Prolonged uproar ah v d cries of "Withdraw!"}.-.; :, Mr Balfour declined to withdraw. followed the Speaker's, filling. ■'' '■' /■ '-'v., '. •' ■-.. Mr Balfour concluded with a fewwords. .'. '".'''-.