DISSOLUTION?

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 567, 23 July 1909, Page 5

DISSOLUTION?

WILL THE LORDS FORCE IT BY VETO? MR. CHURCHILL'S WORDS. MR. ASQUITH TRYING TO EXPLAIN. (Dy Telecrapb.—l'rcss Aasoolatlon.—Oopyrlcht.) , (Rec. July 22, 11 p.m.) London, July 22. Discussion continues on tho words usod in Edinburgh by the Prosident of tho Board of Trade, Mr. Churchill, who, referring to the relations of tho two Houses, said that "wheai tho Finance Bill loaves tho Commons it ought to leavo in its final form, and no amendment, excision, modifying, or mutilating will be agreed to by us." • In tho House of Commons tho Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, stated that Mr: Churchill had informed him that ho said nothing about an "immediate dissolution" at Edinburgh. lie onlj attempted to convey to his hearers that a constitutional conflict between tho two Houses must ultimately bo settled by tho country. This explanation was received in the Commons with laughter. FINANCIAL BILLS. LORDS' POWER TO AMEND DENIED. (Rec. July 22, 11 p.m.) London, July 22. Speaking at the National Liberal Club, tho Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr. Herbert Samuel, said that in the Government's view it was as unconstitutional of the Lords to interfere with the details of a Finance Bill as it would bo for tho Sovereign to vote legislation. LIBERAL NEWSPAPERS DIFFER. (Rec. July 22, 11 p.m.) Lcndcn, July 22. Tho "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal) states thai Mr. Churchill's indiscretion is twofold. Firstly, he is not tho man te announce the Cabinet's decision. Secondly, his scheme is tantamount te submission to tho House of Lords, aho bars no right to force a dissolution. [According to Mr. Asquith's statement in the Houso of Commons, Mr. Churchill'denies- having said anything about an "immediate'dissolution.'"]

The "Daily News" (Liberal) remarks: If the Crown refuses to create now Peers—as wo flunk it ought—a' dissolution cannot bo" avoided. Tho Lords havo power to enforce a dissolution. - ; > POWER TO AMEND-AND RIGHT OF VETO The point raised by Mr. Samuel—tho power of tho Lords to amend or "interfere with the details of" a financial Bill—is quite distinct from the point on which the two Liberal newspapers.appea'rto be divided—whether the Lords can force a dissolution? The Lords'might possibly force a dissolution by the \oto, i.e., by rejecting tho whole of a financial Bill, not amending it. i ■ At this stage, wheri the financial powers of the Lords aro so much in question, it niny be well to Teoall some statements made recently in a Home paper, to the following effect'— By constitutional practice tho House of Lord? never amend financial Bills. Their power to Veto such Bills has even been questioned, and in recent years has nover been exercised. Tho last occasion upon whioh the House of Lords rejected a financial Bill was in 18G0, when it threw out tho repeal of the paper duties by a majority of eighty-nine. The powers of the Upper House as Understood under the Constitution havo been thus defined by Sir Courtenay llbert, Clerk of the House of Com. ,monsi—

1. The Lords ought not to initiate" any legis- „ relative proposal, embodied in a public Bill, : :V- ;,' and-Vimposing ;'a ■■ charge-.3 0n :. the \. people, .:/.: .whether by'way ; of rates, taxes, or othefr ';'-.;vvise; or: regulating tho: administration or ;/;. application :of -money- raised by such, a '';■' charge. '• ■ \-. ."/'■■■ ..■', ■■'■/' ' ■ ■;■;,"•- '•■■ ■'■•;■■.':.'•: ;■' 2..The I "?Lords:.p'ught--'not. to; amend .any such ;,"':■ legislative.proposal. <: ; : ;<; ■!*■;'■ ■■;.'.-"» : ;'■;;" 3.; The -LOrds-'may, reject'-"tho whole of:a.' Bill -: ;,,,eiAbodying: any ' stioh'' legislative , proposal, ;.''.,-!:'prjniay; reject :tho>whole:of- a set 0f.'pr0...: ...: visions 'embodying-an j'-such - legislative :.';,'proposal, and;forming part of a Bill/which -.'.they entitled to amend when V.'v v tlie set of provisions so rejected form a'dis'..;'tin'ct.:and,.separate,'Object; •..;.!;■.

,';Tn 1861-the; repeal of j the. paper •duties /was -[embodied-; not;, iiu a'. : separate Bill,-', but in the Budget; and was sotit'.up to.the House .'of' Lords; whioh'thereupon passed the Budget en blob, ; : 'The ..of the Budget vvoiild: mean that. the -business Of: the 'country, would; be: brought] :t0 a• atahdstill,- as there would be ho authority, to, levy taxes .and■'no'; source' froni'which to : make 'payments. .■-■ ■'•■-■'■ '■•'- 'f 1 - •''■■ ■-': ■''•■■>'■