HOUSE OF LORDS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1124, 11 May 1911, Page 5

HOUSE OF LORDS

REFORM.

STHE UNIONIST BILL, ,

LORD MORLEY SAYS VETO MUST COME BEFORE ALL, UNIONIST MAJORITY RETAINED By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrielil. London, May fl. In continuing hi 9 speech in tho House of Lords on Lord Lansdowne's Reform Bill, Lord Morley, for the Government, said there was no alternative to tho Parliament Bill; nothing must obstruct tho latter measure. He protested against tho idea of creating a new body until they had settled within what limits it would work. The Government's plans had been fully before the electors! its policy had withdrawn the absolute veto from the House of Lords, whether reformed or nn- * reformed. The Government would proceed with the Parliament Bill till the Statute-book gave security to tho supremacy of the House of Commons—' security unimpaired and unimpairnble. Lord Lansdowno's proposals were inadequate and illusory in many respects, and did what was unnecessary, destroyed tho House of Lords. , "The Bill," continued i Lord Morley,' "is unlikely to advance the question, and the Government can commit UheraselvM to no approval of any portion of it as yet presented to us." Lord Lansdowno, in the course of his speech, said he had calculated that his, scheme would leave the Unionist Lords in an apparent majority of eighteen, which was subject to fluctuation, and inigiht disappear altogether. SECOND READING ON' MONDAY. (Rcc. May 11, 0.30 a.m.) London, May 10. In the House of Lords, at Lord Lans' downes instnnye, Lord Morley agreed thai tho second reading of the Opposition' Reform Bill shall be taken on Monday. newspaper comment. CRISIS ENTERS ON A NEW PHASE, London, May 9. r The press generally is surprised at tho' far-reaching character of Lord Lansdownc s proposal. Tho Unionist paper? hope tho Government will accept the, measure as a basis for compromise.

"The Times" : .;iys: "Yesterday will remain a- remarkable date in our political! evolution. The constitutional question! enters on a new phase, iu which the' stubborn retieonco of . tho Government must give place to definite proposals." The "Daily News" (Liberal) declares that Lord Lansdownc's House of Lords, would be a protected House, because de-' cisive faction always rests with heredity.! The "Morning Post" (Unionist) de-; scribes Ihn proposals as suicidal, 'and tho' outcome of panic. i The "Westminster Gazette" (Indepond-r <mt)' estimates the Conservative majority at 32 under Lord Lansdowno's scheme THE VETO BILL. CLOSURE APPLIED IN COMMONS (Kec, May 11, 0.30 a.m.) • London, May 10. In tho House of Commons, on Radical members interrupting Lord Hugh Cecil, Unionist member for Oxford University, during tho Veto debate, tho Speaker re-, marked that it was bad enough to opplj (ho closuro at half-past four, oud the least members could do was to listen to their opponents' arguments. The report stago of the first claujo concluded under tho guillotine. •