FIGHTING THE LORDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 8

FIGHTING THE LORDS.

THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE. MR. ASOUITH'S RESOLUTIONS. PRESS COMMENT. By Telegraph.— Presa Association.— Copyright. (Received March 31, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, 30th March. The Daily Chronicle agrees with Mr. Redmond (leader of the Nationalist party) that when the Lords reject the Premier's resolutions, Mr. Asquith should secure the King's promise to use the Royal prerogative and then dissolve. The Chronicle dUagrees with Mr. Redmond's idea, that no other measuio should delay dissolution, and urges that it is absurd to fight the Lorda by drop ping the Budget which precipitated the crisis. The Graphic says : '*y\r. Asquith has not indicated, as lie promised to do, proposals of reform, but has simply attacked the House of Lords as constituted." Several newspapers comment on tlie lack of enthusiasm shown during the debate on the veto resolution*. Thiity amendments areHo be proposed to the resolutions. Mr. Storey (Unionist) urges that preference should be given to social reforms. The Standard declares that the extremists are dissatisfied with Mr. Asquith's idea of reforming the House of Lords. The Moderates urge the amalgamation of the reform issue with the limitation of the veto. INTEREST IX DEBATE FLAGGING. MANY MEMBERS ABSENT. PEERS' GALLERY EMPTY. (Received March 31, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, 30th March. Interest in the debate has flagged. There were many absentees, and the Peers' Gallery was empty. Mr. F. £. Smith (IJnionist) in a racy speech, twitted Mr. Asquith with omitting explanations as to proposed reform. It was everybody's- knowledge that those who kept the Government in office were not committed to the reform of the Lords. Not 30 per cent, of the coalition members intended to go to their constituents in May or June and ask fpr a mandate for reform of the Lords. Mr. J. A. Simon (Liberal) said the Unionists would welcome an attempt to combine the matter of complicated reforms with the simpler proposal of the limitation of the veto, but if the Government adopted the simper method it would have a united party behind it.