LORDS' VETO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 790, 13 April 1910, Page 5

LORDS' VETO.

THE SECOND RESOLUTION MOVED, MR, ASQUITH'S SPEECH, By Teleeraph-Press Association-Oopyrieht (Rec. April 12, 11.15 p.m.) . . London, April 12. In committee of tho House of Commons the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, moved the second veto resolution, Mr. Walter Long replying on behalf of tho Unionists. Tho resolution provides: It is expedient that the powers of the House of Lords respecting Bills, other than Money Bills, be legally restricted so that when a Bill has passed the House of Commons three successive sessions, and has been sent to the House of Lords at,least a month before tho end of the session, and rejected in each of the 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 betweon the first introduction to ' the Houso of Commons and the date when it passes the House of Commons for the third tiine. Bills shall be treated as rejected if not passed- by the Houso of Lords without amendments, or with only amendments agreed to by both Houses.

Mr. Asquith emphasised the point that the absolute veto of the House of Lords would remain untouched, except where thero was an overwhelmingly strong presumption that the House of Commons' decision expressed the people's opinion. Ho admitted that thero were. conceivable actual cases in which the decision of the, House of Commons would not represent the opinion of tho people; as, for instance, where a scratch majority banded together under the coercion of party exigencies for particular transient purpose, or whero'a crumbling majority had lost popular favour. Therefore, a Second Chamber, even such as the present House of Lords, had uses, and ought to be allowed to,exercise its powers to prevent the abuse of constituI tional forms

Mr Asquith explained that, ''according to the resolution, the two years' delay between the introduction and.final passing of a Bill under the new system must have been preceded by a general election. Ho added that, though the preamble- of the Veto Bill foreshadowed . a change in the Second Chamber's constitution, this would take a, long time even in the most favourable circumstances. Hence, the operative clauses of the Bill would not travel beyond the resolutions; ." . ANTI-VETO CAMPAIGN., LIBERALS ACTIVE.. . , London, April 11. In London an active Liberal campaign against the Lords' veto"is;proceeding. Many meetings were held in the parksduring the week-end, and other meetings are being arranged. ; It is' proposed to secure a large petition for presentation to Mr, Asquith.': 1 Twenty anti-veto • demonstrations were held in Devonshire on Saturday last.

THROWING MONEY CHAOS AT THE LORDS. AN INCOME TAX RESOLUTION/ ■ '.. LIKELY. .- .London, April 11. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. D. Lloyd-George, replying to a question in tho House of Commons, stated that he had a hopo that a resolution legalising the income tax would bo passed on April 18. .'■ =.' Lord Ampthill, formerly Acting-Viceroy of India, speaking at Bedford, said the Government of the country was in the hands ( of unscrupulous adventurous demagogues,' who were so puffed up with.the pride of place that they were willing to put the Constitution in the melting-pot and play the devil with'the finances, in order to throw the resulting chaos at the House of Lords. .