SWAMPING THE LORDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1177, 12 July 1911, Page 7

SWAMPING THE LORDS.

FEELING IN LIBERAL RANKS. U.v TekeraDh-Press Association-Copyrieht London, July 10. Tlio feeling among- the Liberal* rank and file in regard to reform of the Upper House favours the creation of new Peers. U is believed that two hundred new Peers will prove ns effective as five hundred, giving the Government a new hold on the Lords. THE KING AND THE PEERS, PLAYIXG THE GREAT GAME LOYALLY. the subject of nn unsigned article in the Jui e Contemporary Review." The writer M.cves t hat Kin, George will Vpplvd lias already applied the Victorian theory ?L?_ institutional monarch on strictly stiihfc n 'TV " He will be not les * keen to" , IlOt i- SS "Wmcntire, not less mn/i h Pres hls own views and to protl,» ) e P l hcy which he rl « cn,s tes t for the realm; but he will abide by the rules thi,V, amO i of which the dominant is matfp • ~ So. v . c reis n .becomes an autonihl r , og '| h '? t,o » machine when he is unable to find an alternative Ministry.' " fv™ ti de s c VJ b,n S the course of events I.' 0 ™ 10 fal '" re of the Conference last ' ?<m, th(, vntn proceeds:Ine King granted Mr. Asquith's demands for a dissolution on Mr Asquith's terms, and loyally waited the result of he general election.- Probably no one "'S l ft ve "«* of Hie polls with more anxiety than Kmg George. If the result had been, indecisive, he would have been face to face with one of these supreme opportunities which make or mar a Monarchy. If, on the other hand, the coalition came back with a three-figiiro malonty, the course of events would pass beyond Ins control. So far as this issue was concerned, he would sink at once into tlio position of an automaton, whoso signature would either be withheld from the writs of summons of peers, whose only qualification wn s their hereditary rank, or could be affixed to patents of 500 neiy pecra ß es, a.s Jir. Asquith directed, lie might hate this automatic exercise of his prerogative by the Prime Minister ; but the Kin<? is far too loyal to the Constitution, and far too cood a snortsman to think of nradine his obligations. The moment the result of the general election was declared the Kin? recognised his position. AiWher dissolution was out of the question. The Opnositiin could not furnish him an alternative Cabinet that could face the House of Commons for a. single day. Aot the overbearing nrroo-ance of a usurping Minister, but the abiVct aiu) boneless impotence of the Opposition reduced the King to a position of nn obedi»nt automaton in the hands of Mr Asquith. .That he .lid not like the position may be taken for granted; but . . . King George lias never allowed nny one to nerceive that the action of the'automaton was nnt the free exercise of his own royal will. Should the Peers persist in compelling the exercise of the royal tirerogativo to enforce the will of „ the Commons, that prerogative will be exercised without tremor, or hesitation, or holding back. Tim K'in? will play the great eamn. according to the strictest niles. loyally and royally to the end. The bnthenfl« of the Onpnsitinn may rase but 'Mr. Bnlfoiir and Lord Lansdoirm know that Hip Kinrr has no elinicn but f< do that which is the inevitable result ni their own inabiHtv f" furnish him n-itr nn alternative Cabiimt. A* for Kin? freorge. he has tio doubt?. He knows hii fintr. and for him t" Vnoir io to do. "Hence the chw of tb» (ir<=r year of th< new reiin finds tho nation absolutely fr P < from any anxiety or evcitompnt. Tbi TCin" hn» slmwn tb.it fbo balanrp-wbno] oj the Con=Htntinn i<! funrtioninu with nerf»et regularity, and that bnin<r the c.ise, vne prisT. is no r.ri c is. '"*nt, mpr°ly a Parlinmpntarv incident, which is nbenf fn bf nniefly solved in a perfectly Constitutional way."