VETO RESOLUTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 7

VETO RESOLUTIONS.

. DRASTIC RESTRICTIONS. THE LORDS AND MONEY BILLS. FIVE-YEAR PARLIAMENTS. LOBBY AND NEWSPAPER CRITICISM ■ J By Teleeraph-Press Association-Copyright. (Rec. March 22, 10 p.m.) London, March 22. In the House of Commons to-day Mr. Asquith gavo tho details of his House of Lords veto resolutions as follow: I. It Is expedient that tho House of Lords should be disabled by lav; from rejecting or amending Money Bills. These are defined as follow:— Bills which the Speaker considers to contain only provivisions dealing with the Imposition, repeal, remission, alteration, or regulation of taxation; also charges on the Consolidated Fund, or the provision of money by Parliament; ' also the supply and approprla- ■ tlon, control, or regulation of public money; also the raising, guaranteeing, or repayment of loans, or matters incidental to these subjects.

It Is expedient that the powers of the House of Lords respecting Bills other than ' Money Bills bo legally restricted so that when a Bill has passed the House of Commons three successive sessions, and has been sent to the Houso of Lords at least a "month before the end of the session, and rejected In each of tho three sessions, it shall become law . without the consent of the House of Lords upon the Royal ' . Assent being given, provided : that at least two years shall . elapse between the first introduction to the House of Commons and the date when it passes the House of Commons for the third time. Bills shall be treated as rejected if not passed by the House of Lords without amendment, or with only amendments agreed 'to by both Houses. ■•'■•■■ ; '< : .... . •;..■ in. '. ■ . ■ The third resolution limits \ the duration of Parliament to five years. . PRESS OPINIONS. ' "SERIOUS DISUNION WILL BE FATAL." (Rec. March 22, 10.30 p.m.) London, March 22. The "Daily News" states that Mr. Asquith's resolutions' will create profound satisfaction throughout , the country; They are not complicated by questions of Second Chamber reform. The "Chronicle" says: Any serious disunion will be fatal. The passage of the Budget is essential. "The Times" complains that the resolutions, in making the Speaker, tho .sole judge of tackiiig. are a shade less objectionable with quinquennial than with septennial Parliaments,, ■ Radical lobby opinion criticises the provision whereby two years must elapse between the' first introduction and the third rejection of a Bill. This, it is Btated, will have the effect of sterilising tho closing yeare of a Parliament's existence.

A CONFERENCE. MINISTERIALISTS HOPEFUL OF A ' . MODUS VIVENDI. ' (Reo. March 22, 10.30 p.m.)' ..'■■■■ . London, March 22. Mr. Lloyd-George, Mr. Birrell, the Master of Elibank, Mr. Redmond, and Mr. Dillon, had an hour's conference, but the result is not known. Ministerialists' are hopeful that a modus .vivendi. will be arranged. LORD ROSEBERYJS RESOLUTIONS. FURTHER DISCUSSION. (Reo. March 22, 10.30 p.m;) Lqndon, March 22. The House of Lords has .agreed to the Committee stage of two.of Lord Rosebery's resolutions. . A lively discussion followed on Lord Killanin's. proposal to limit the application of the third resolution to future peerages. Lord Rosebery,- tho Duke of Northumberland, and Lord Lansdowne urged Lord Killanin to withdraw his amendment on the ground that it would be open to the criticism that the peers desired to preserve their own interests. Lord Killanin eventually agreed to this suggestion, ' and the debate was adjourned. Lord Rosebery's resolutions are as follow: —. :

(1) That a strong and efficient Second Chamber, an. integral part. of the Constitution, is necessary for the well-being of the State and the balance of Parliament. (2) That such a Chamber can best be obtained by the reform and reconstruction of tho House of Lords. ■ (3) That a necessary preliminary to such reconstruction ' is the acceptance of the principle that the possession of a peerage no longer of itself gives the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords. FINANCE. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. London, March 21. Many inquiries have been made in tho House of Commons regarding various phases of finance. The Prime Minister, Mr. Asquit-h, refused all information, except that at present it was not intended to hayo two Budgets rolled into one, ■ and that it was still intended to pass the Budget before the spring recess. ATTITUDE OF THE NATIONALISTS. STATEMENT BY MR. O'BRIEN. • London, March 21. Tho newspapers report that Mr. William O'Brien (Leader of tho Independont Irish Parliamentary Party) and Mr. Hesvly recontly visited Mr. LloydGeorge. • : ■ Mr. O'Brion writes:—"There is roason to liopo that extra spirit duties, land burdens, and general-revaluation will bo dropped; othonviso tho Budgotand its authors and accomplices aro doomed." • The "Star" ' (Liberal) asks why Mr.'. Asquitb. and Mr. Bedmond. do not!

moet and come to an arrangement immediately. Tho "Westminster Gazette" is unsympathetic towards an arrangement with the Nationalists. "RIDINC FOR A FALL." SPEECH BY MB. KEIR HARDIE. London, March 21. Mr. Keir Hardie (Labour M.P.), speaking at Merthyr Tydvil, described Mr. Asquith's speech at Oxford as another bellyful of East wind. He believed the Government was riding for a fall. ANOTHER ELECTION. EAGER PREPARATIONS. London, March 21. The newspapers of both parties refer to the eager preparations being made for another election, which some now anticipate will take place in.April. Those who expect that Mr. Asquith will be quitting Downing Street shortly havo noticed the cleansing and preparing of tho Prime Minister's old residence in Cavendish Square. INCOME TAX. THE BANK AND THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL. . London, March .21. The Bank of England, in view of the Government's decision not to secure Legislative sanction, for tjhe. collection of the income tax, has informed the London County Council that theibank intends to refund, upon application by the owners of the stock, the amount deducted for the payment of the tax. The announcement refers to'74s millions of London stock whereon the income tax totals £120,000-. The council hitherto held -this at the Gorernment's disposal, but the Treasury never applied for it. The counoil Las agreed to the bank's decision. JUNIOR CONSTITUTIONAL LEACUE. London, March 21. A Junior Imperial Constitutional League with Lord Oasltaeagh, Unionist M.P. for Maidstone, as chairman, has been formed. The league has fifty branches, and is still spreading..