THE LORDS' VETO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1064, 1 March 1911, Page 5

THE LORDS' VETO.

MR. HALDANE SPEAKS. LIBERAL UPPER HOUSE REFORM PROPOSED. OPPOSITION DIVIDED. I Cy Telegraph-Press Associalion-Cosyrlght (Rec. March 1, 0.5 a.m.) London, February 28. The debate on the Parliament Bill was continued in the House oi Commons by Mr. Haldane, Secretary of State for War, who declared that a Second Chamber, properly constituted, would be sympathetic, and, like a perfect wife, would comfort and warn, but would not command. He added, that the Government were pledged to use the Parliament Bill as a stepping-stone to a reformed Second Chamber, and quoted Mr. Asquith's speech of last March that this reform was urgent. Mr. Haldane concluded by stating that tho Bill conferred great power on the other House by enabling it to reject a measure thrice.

Members of the. Labour and Nationalist parties and others continued the- debate.

The House was not crowded, and the attendance at the dinner hour was below a quorum.

REFORM OF THE LORDS. UNIONIST PARTY DIVIDED. YOUNGER MEMBERS FAVOUR AN ELECTIVE HOUSE. (Eec. March 1, 0.25 a.m.) London, February 28. The "Daily News" (Liberal) says that at one moment tho only Tory present at yesterday's sitting of the House of Commons was Lord Ronaldshay. Tho desertion of the House was duo to the fierco war waging in the Tory camp. Mr. Balfour and his friends wero fighting with their backs to the wall against tho younger Tories, who favour an olectivo Second Chamber, and the elimination of the hereditary principle. The "Daily Mail" confirms the statement that some of the younger Unionists favour a purely elective basis for the Upper House, with tho period of tenure a, septennate or a decade, and without the limitation of the Second Chamber's existing powers.

A GROWING CONVICTION. ELECTIVE PRINCIPLE FAVOURED. (Rμ, March 1, 0.5 a.m.) ' . London, February 28. The "Glasgow. Herald" says the conviction is spreading that a purely elective Second Chamber is essential to the reform of the House of Lords, but it would be useless unless approved of by the bulk of the Liberals. The schemes based on Lord Lahsdowne's and Lord Curzon's proposals are dead. Large constituencies, with several, members elected by proportional representation, would free the Second Chamber from tho ordinary party divisions.. LOCAL LEGISLATURES. DUKE OP ARGYLL'S PLAN. (Rec. Marcli 1, 0.5 a.m.) London, February 28. Writing in the "Timos," .tho Duke of Argyll suggests the establishment, ot local Legislatures similar to those in tho United States, and governing a small area only. This, he argues, would secure the par'amountcy of tho Union Government. Unions of counties could lie represented in the House of Lords, and have subordinate legislative powers.