PEER AND COMMONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 586, 14 August 1909, Page 5

PEER AND COMMONS.

PRIVILEGE. INTERFERENCE WITH AN ELECTION. THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. (By Telceraph.—Pros Association.—Oopyrlsht.) . . ■ London, August 12. • 'With reference to the House,of Commons' resolution declaring that the Duke of Norfolk was guilty of .a breach of' privilege '• in regard to the High Peak election, tlje Duke wrote stating that he had not authorised the publication of his letter, to Mr. Profumo. Jf the Committee of Privileges desired his presenoo, added, his Graoej He presumed application must fee made to the House of Lords, •" ■ The Commons Commlfiee's decision in the matter has been adjourned. . THE INFRINGED PRIVILEGES. A Parliamentary election for High Peak (Derbyshire) was rendered necessary by Mr. 0. Pnrtingtoit accepting the-. office of a Junior Lord of the Treasury.. Mr. A. Profumo is the Unionist candidate, and ''.to- him the Diiko of Norfolk has written in the ■ interests of Roman Catholic schools. < The ' Hoiise ,of ' Commons thereupon wsolved,' on the niotiin of' Mr. John Dillon (Nationalist) and Mr, John. Redmond (Nationalist Leader), "that tho Dnko of Norfolk has been guilty of a breach, of the privileges of the -House .of. Commons in,.writing to Mr. Profunio,: a. candidate for . Parliament, in the matter-'of Roman-.Catholic schools." :v, The House of according to "May s Parliamentary Practice," agrees- to .the following' 1 resolutionsin condemnation vof ' irregular practices .to influence the freedom of election:-- . . , , ■ v ■ "That no peer: of' this realm, except suoh peers of Ireland as shall, for the time heirig be actually, elected, and 6hall not have declined to-servo for any county, city,, or: borough' of Great Britain, hath , any right to give his vote in- the "•election .'.of any , meinber- to; serve in Parliament." ;

"That' it- is : a ; . high 'infringement of the Jlb'crties and privileges of, the' Commons of the Uujted 'Kingdom'-for lord .of Parliament, or other peer:or prelate, not being: a peer, of Ireland '.'at. the'time- elected,' and not ihaving; dooljriefl to> servo, for' '"any*:.county, city,. or borough of . Great ' to concern ■ himself nv the election of meniber's, to; serve for..the Commons' in .Parliament* except only any/peer of Ireland-at/siich'.elePtions in Great Britain .'respectively •wherß'. such : ,peer.:shall appear as; a .candidate, or, by': himself pi-byi others'be proposed to bo elected i'< or; for' anyi Lord. Liontenant or Governor, of any county to avail, himself of 'any authority. derivod,' from/,his!.,commission to influence'the election of-any'mem-' ber to serve'for the.Commonaiin-Parliamenti", ■ When: the .rts,ol«tio,h .printed,.above. ; was be r fore, the "House- of: Commons, thej Prime. Minister, jrr.' Asquith, paid that .in- view of-, its "sessional br&vt ■ prohibiting peers from interfering in elections, . the,'. House of .Commons would be stultifying itself if"it' did_not notice 'thed letter.', Mr. Balfour, said that: the, matter was trivial,-; and ' he - twitted'- llndiealsv lip: rusty.- weapons-,' of . immeniorial.-antiquity,- instead of presei'vin.Er'the' livirig and: working elemefils of the Canstitufion. ' . ' ' ; ,i.