A SENSATION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10199, 30 March 1911, Page 5

A SENSATION

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association—By EJeo tric Telegraph—Copyright.

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM

LORD LANSDOWNE SPRINGS A SURPRISE. - (Received March 29, 1 p.m.) LONDON, March 28. A seusation has been caused by the Marquis of Lansdowne, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, postponing his House of Lords Reform Bill beyond Easter, and giving notice to move on Thursday next: —"That a humble address be presented to his Majesty, asking His Majesty's canction ibo introduce a Bill limiting the prerogatives and powers of the Crown concerning :the creation, and summoning of • peers." '

(Received Last Night, 11.44 o'clock.)

: f , LONDON. Marcli> 29. Lord Lansdowne remarked that his Bill, like any for the reconstitution of the Lords, .'necessarily- touched the I Royal prerogative. He was satisfied, las a result;'of inquiries,- that- any such I Bill required the previous sanction of' ':the Crown.' .-'.■:'■' ■'.'''''-'v '?""■■' ."■'. - ■;. ..) [:. Lord Balfour,.of .Burleigh^*\ moved' ithosecontl reading'of tlie Referendum ! "'••■' 4 - •''■• ' '""' -'Y-•'■'■•;'-'; ! Lord Morloy, referring to the crowded attendance, said that all realised that the House was opening the first page of a most momentous departure in the eonstiutional history of the country. Nothing in the Veto Bi!' or Lord Lansdowne's Reform Bill could produce such tremendous changes as the Bill moved by Lord Balfour, cf -Burleigh, involving the country in'.the prolongation of a conflict of repeated referenda;' -Moreover, it opipowcivd tlie : . Lords to enfore a, dissolution when they ch'o(se; : ~ t,: Lord' Lansdowne stated* that wherever the, referendum had been estn •-' lished it had neyerbecn abolished. Th - Unionists regarded the Rcrerendum quite an ex ce,ptior.al mea.sure. ai> « last resource when other expedients of settling persistent differences had failed!"' His "advice-was that Lord Balfour should not, pending . the projected amendments grafting the Referenda to /the Veto Bill, compel the House now itoivote "aye"fof "no" on the second .reading. Ultimatelv the debate was adjourn- / ed. .-■ ' ;',' ' ■ ■ V

Lord Lansdown's notice to address .the.King is. the whole topic of/disctiss.ion in political circles. ■'■"''■%. ■ -Newspapers express divergent.;views regarding Cabinet's probable advice to the King regarding the introduction of Lord Lansdowne's'Bill.; ' ,;i

The'^ln , 6«i6lesa.ys > that \tho Ministers may perhaps' advice the Grown to consent to its) introduction lest the Government should be accused of depriving the Lords of the power to discuss of their own reformand straming the constitution in the Liberal interests. .'''.,-'