HOUSE OF LORDS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10242, 19 May 1911, Page 5

HOUSE OF LORDS

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association—-By EJeo tric Telegraph — Copyright.

LORD LANSDOWNE'S REFORM BILL.

THE DEBATE CONTINUED.

(Received Last Night, 11.35 o'clock.) LONDON, May 18.

During tHie -course of the debate on Lord 1 Lanisdowine's Reform Bill, Lord Curzon complained that the Government's uncompromising attitude did oiot reflect public opinion. He attributed their refusal to reveal their policy to a fear of section? of their followers concerning the Bill, wJiich was l fairness and simplicity itself. Although, Lord) Morley estimated that there was a Unionist ma- . jority in. the House of Lords , of forty, th.e Radicals were in the majority by eighty at th-3 joint sessions.

Lord Courtney hoped the Government would encourage the reforms, which were a great step forward. Lord Rosebery criticised the bad policy of introducing the Bill. He said it would have been wiser to re-

ly on resolutions. Only a responsible Government .should introduce constitutional reforms. Since Tt was. impossible to frame a scheme .to please everybody, it required all the Government's influence and blandislwnents

to secure the acceptation of any solution. He ' ridiculed ah election by colleagues, stating that an elector; by Borough and County Councils would be preferable. He also objected to the Lords' choice being limited to Peers and special qualifications. Lord Rosebery asked what would ibe the position when the Parliament Bill was law. They would be acolytes and sycophants, who would accept the degrading position and fill the denuded bench if the Veto Bill became law. Lord Lansdowne's Bi'J mattered! little. He held no brief for the House of Lords or the House of Commons, but he wished to preserve the bi-oaiheral system which the Government desired to overthrow.

The debate was adjourned till Monday.