THE VETO BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10311, 11 August 1911, Page 7

THE VETO BILL.

AMENDMENTS DISCUSSED

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.

(Received August 10, 8.25 a.m.)

LONDON, August 9. Lord Hugh Cecil's motion, that the amendments made by the Lords in he Veto Bill be considered three month? hence, was defeated by 348 votes to 209 votes. Sir Edward Careon, who seconded the motion, congratulated Mr Relmond on bringing the great Liberal Party to its knees. Neither the Government, nor tho Commons, nor the Lords, nor the crowd, he paid, had been free agents since Mr Asquith's blackmailing letter of November loth to the King. A Ministerial uproar followed the latter statement, but the Speaker refused to rule the language unparliamentary. Sir Edward Carson asked whether the King had been advised of the effect the guarantees he was asked to give would have upon tho Home Rule issue. . •• - Mr Churchill Teplied that the King was acquainted with the matters in dispute, among which Home Rule .vas one of the more important. This reply caused a. sensation. Mr Churchill added that it would be absurd to say that they had made any secret of their intentions to use -V machinery provided in the Parliament Bill for the passage of Home Rule and other matters. He challenged Mr Balfour to say that he would reoeal the Parliament Bill when the Unionists were again returned to power. ' Mr Balfour immediately rose and announced that when the Unionists were returned to power they won LI repeal the Bill, but not without substituting therefor another Bill for u he reform of the House of Lords.

Mr Churchill concluded by outlining the Government's amendments, including a new clause forbidding the extension of the life of any singi'* Parliament beyond five years, and alsD a provision enabling the Speaker to consult the Chairman of Ways ani Means and the Chairman of the.Public Accounts Committee before deciding whether a Bill was a money Bill Mr Dalziell, Mr Henderson, and other Radicals angrily protested against this surrender to the "diehsrds." Mr LloydrGeorge explained that the proposed change was due to.. the Speaker not caring- to assume sole responsibility for the' House ,of Commons in such a matter. Finally it was agreed that the Speaker should consult two members who. would be appointed each session from the panel of chairmen. Lord Lansdowne's amendment instituting a referendum on . Home RuU was rejected by 321 votes to 211 votes. A committee,, consisting of Sir Rvfus Isaacs and Messrs Churchill Dalziell and Henderson, was appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the proposed amendments. The debate was then adjourned.