PEERS ON THE STUMP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 11

PEERS ON THE STUMP.

The spectacle of some twenty Peers "on the stump" in town and country has added to the gaiety of England. In come cases the nable orators have ibeen sadly shocked to find their meetings very different in temper from the gatherings of discreetly respectful tenants to which they have hitherto I>een aeons•bomed. Instead of being received -with the admiring applause they are wont to expect at charity bazaars, they (have found themselves face to face with, audiences who pepper them with, all sorts of inconvenient questions, and who have the bad taste actually to laugh at them.

The Duke of Marllboroug'h, iwihose sense of his own importance is considerably greater than his sense of humour, has had the disconcerting experience of being laughed at. "I should never consent to sit in a House of Lords whose powers were restricted," he exclaimed, -with suppressed scorn, the other day. ' "Oh! don't say that, guvn'r," came a voice, appealingly, "or you'll break our 'carts." The Duke wae evidently unable to understand what the audience saw to laugh at in this rude interposition , of the "voice." Another well-known peer who must be (feeling rather sorry for himself just now Iβ Lord Milner. Ever since he advised the House of Lords to reject the Budget and "damn the consequences," that fatal phrase has followed him up and down the counltry wherever he has spoken. Lord Milner has made many speeches since then, Tsut all that anybody remembers of his oratorical efforts is that on* phrase "damn the consequences." His audiences wherever he goes evidently know all about it, and at the most inconvenient moments he is interrupted by the repetition of his own forcible words. LoTd Milner, like Lord Curzon, has been accustomed to having his dignity offended on public platforms, and although he ignores the interruptions they must annoy him much, for, like Lord Curzon, he is entirely bereft of any sense of humour, and is unable| to turn aside the point of the gibe with a laughing retort. Whenever he attempts to impress his hearera jby enlarging on. "the gravity- of. the issues at stake: "Oh! damn the consequences!' comes with, crushing effect. As for Lord Curzon, he has been so disgusted and horrified at the familiarity of the common people.at hie meetings that he has made no further fixtures. This is the more noteworthy in that it was Lord Curzon who planned the Peers' platform campaign.