HOUSE OF LORDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 429, 11 February 1909, Page 7

HOUSE OF LORDS.

A SEVERE STRUGGLE,

SPEECH BY A LIBERAL MEMBER.

OTHER THREATS. (BY TBLEUUirn—riusss ASSOCIATION—Cor-IOISOT.) London, February.9. Mr. A. TJw, Liberal M.P. for Linlithgowshire* speaking at Cockormoutk, said a severe struggle with the- House of Lords was about to begin. He added that by a single clause in a single Act tho Liberals would end the Lords' claims, and instantly restore the, inalienable rights of the people's representatives, Tho Right Hon. R. M'Konna (First Lord of tho Admiralty) and Mr. L... Harcourt (First 1 Commissioner . of' JWorks),"' arp also threatening the House .of Lords on tho Jines of tho'late Sir Henry Carapbell-Bannerman's resolution.!- '". '. "THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE." The resolution parsed on the motion of Sir Henry; Campbell-Bannerman is as follows:— "That, in order to give effect to the will of the/people, as expressed by their elected representatives, it is necessary, that the power of the other Housb to alter or reject Bills passed, by this: House should, be so restricted by. law as to secure that within the'limit of -a single Parliament the final decision of the Commons shall prevail." .-•,.'.; : A FIGHTING POLICY.;'■:• ' ; The."Nation"'(Liberal) 6ay's that'thePremier, in his speech on tho'Houseof Lords at the National Liberal Club "spoke the mind of tho party. If he had said one word more, he would have expressed it. yet more-faithfully and fully." But he didn't. "He did not speak the decisive'word-that .would kindle tho enthusiasm ,of his party into flame, and '.brace it to such a. fighting pitoh as"it has not reached since the palmiest days of Gladstone.".. :■ "We ;' confess to' a fear," /continues the. "Nation," "that before a- fighting policy can' be successfully! initiated there are people of importance, who have to learn .what a fight-' ing policy means/* There;appear to' be some: very hazy notions"■;upon" this point: It seems : to; be'seriously thought :that. a great challenge can be issued, and the' fight delayed for an in-, definite period- until it suits the challenger to make good his words.; .This is not fighting. „ It is, rforse, . It is not! even submitting./ It is to threaten without acting.' .It is to repeat the blunder of two years ago. If the'position of Lords is rightly desoribed as/the 'dominating, issue,' we must mako up, onr. minds to face • the issue, and: from the'. time, that this is admitted—and it should have been/admitted, two years ago--every act of the Government should be directed to, dealing with it". 'Every' year /that the .conflict- is /postponed .worsens ■ our position in, waging. it. Yet : it oannot be escaped. It is truly, called the. 'dominating issue.' As such, it must be accepted and faced, and, whenfaced, the struggle must be entered ■ upon with ho.paralysing,delays."-/: . ..V ' : RIDDLE/OF;THE:SPHINX.f!: : .' r ', . The '"Daily Telegraph" challenges the Government,in these terms:— •;■';;'- '•;'■ .'."' ', "For nearly half/a.generation this, question of the 'Peers, as Mr. Asquith. says, has been: 'the ..dominating issue' in politics. Throughout that period the Premier/and his colleagues have known that this was for them.the riddle of ; the Sphinx; they must answer.it'or perish. The result has been fatal before' and will be deadly . again, because, no Liberal except Mr. Gladstone, great in ; courage and decision, has over, dared to face the faots.;. Mr, Asquith and his colleagues have: spread .throughout :/the' Liberal - ranks ■ tho depressing. conviction' that' this Government knows neither now to fight nor to submit. It is, of course, possible that Ministers may be driven to the polls next-year in.' spite of v them, and .the Opposition can? not afford to leave,.anything to chance., The Unionist "position, argumentatively,,and . in every .way, is absolutely impregnable. Thoy fight for nothing but this. principle—that .tho destinies of the ;Empire I .never shall/be sur- : rendered' to the unohecked domination 'of. chance majorities, in a single Chamber', but that in case of grave conflict between the' H. J ■ /-!s the people.. themselves ■/ shall/ arbitrate;'• m .such fashion that. the i6ettled will' of the nation it-! self shall undoubtedly,prevail." .'/•/ ".-'.'•