THE VETO BILL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10252, 31 May 1911, Page 5

THE VETO BILL

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.

DISCUSSED BY THE LORDS.

CAUSTIC CRITICISM. (Received Last Night, 10 o'clock.) LONDON. May 30. The House of Lords was crowded when the debate on the Veto Bill began. Among those present were leading Colonian and Indian visitors. Lord Rosebury, referring to Lord Morley's suggestion for co-operation with regard to reform, said that when the Bill was passed the composition of the House would not alter a straw. Tho nation did not appreciate the importance of the question; but when it did it would not be content with a phantom Second Chamber. It would demand the restoration of the Constitution. He admitted that a Bill was long overdue. The last two elections were grave, by reason of this fact; but the government had chosen to proceed on the lines of party rancour and revenge. Lord Haldane replied to Lord Rosebe ry. He said that in 1894 he held that the Liberals must be freed from tho Veto before, they faced the. other difficulties.

Lord Lansdowne said that the fact that the House was not dividing did not mean that they were accepting the Bill. It was desirable to submit amendments, especially as safeguards during the period preceding tho reconstruction of the House of Lords, sufficient to protect the foundation of the United Kingdom from an irreparable change.-

Lord Morley closed the debate in a conciliatory speech. Ho declared that the Government was prepared to discuss amendments which were.not opposed to the effective predominance of tho House of Commons over the House of Lords. The debate will be adjourned from Thursday next to June 28th.