BRITISH POLITICS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 88, 15 April 1910, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

HOUSE OF LORDS. REFORM FROM WITHIN. MORE RESOLUTIONS BY LORD ROSEBERY. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received April 15. 8.25 a.m.) LONDON, 14th April. Lord Rosebery has given notice of the following resolutions: — (1) That in future the House of Lords *hall consul of Lords of Parliament : (a) chosen by the whole body of hereditary peers among themselves, and by nomination by the Crown ; (b) fitting by virtue- of offices and qualifications ; and (c) chosen from ouUide. (2) The term of tenure of all shall be the Fame, except in the ca.«e of those sitting ex ofhcio, who shall sit to long as tney hold the offices wherefor they fit. It is the prefent intention of the Unionists that these resolution!! fhall be submitted to a committee of the House of Lords simultaneously with the Government's veto resolution;. Toe latter will be introduced in the House of Lords before the spring recess. WHEN THE LORDS REJECT THE RESOLUTIONS. IF A DISSOLUTION FOLLOWS. QUESTION OF SUPPLY. (Received April 15, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 14th April. The Times says: — "If, or when, the Lords reject the veto resolution*, and if a dissolution follows, the Government in- j tends to take further supply to cover the period of the general election." DEBATE CONTINUED. AMENDMENTS. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. (Received April 15, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 14th April. The House of Commons teccmed the debate on Mr. Asquith's veto resolutions. Lord Winterton (Conservative) moved an amendment to exclude from the scope of the second resolution Bills affecting i the duration of Parliament. The amendment was negatived by 317 . to 188 votes. I Consideration of an amendment moved by Mr. James Hope (Unionist member for Sheffield) to exclude Bills affecting the prerogative, right*, and power* of the Crown wa* adjourned. The rest of the sitting was devoted to a resolution by Mr. J. Taylor (Labour member for Chester-le-Street) in favour of restoring to trades union* the right to levy for the payment of latbour-members of the House of Commons. The debate was adjourned after Sir W. Robson. Attorney-General, had emphasised the contro\er?ial character of the subject, and suggested that the ultimate solution was SState payment of all members. THE BUDGET. GUILLOTINE PROPOSAL. OPPOSITION~COMPLAINTS. (Received April 15, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, 14th April. Under Mr. Asquith's Budget guillotine proposal the debate on the resolutions will be concluded on the 20th. the second reading will be taken on the 25th, j the committee stage will be on the 26th, the report will not be debated, and will be passed on the 27th. The Opposition complains that the oid amendments will be ruled out without cognizance of the fact that many members were elected to oppose the form in whkh the last Bill (now reiniroduced) was sent to the House of Lords. i UNPARALLELED SITUATION. j SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. TALK ABOUT SOCIAL REFORM. LONDON, 14th April. Presiding at a luncheon given by the United Club, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Balfour), said that tho Parliamentary situation was unparalleled. There had been no King's Speech in the sense of a speech announcing the Government's legislative policy, which had been carefully withheld from the House of Commons, and had only now been blurted out by Mr. Churchill, Home Secretary. The only attempt at a King's Speech was offered by Mr. Churchill on Tuesday night, when he sketched a long series of minor constitutional resolutions, the offspring of the greater one that he and his friends would endeavour to carry. All talk about social reform on the part of the present Government was a gross imposture. Mr. Balfour incidentally mentioned that he had not rejected the idea of a referendum. He declared that the Conservatives favouied the introduction into the House of Lord* of an elected element drawn from the people, but it wcnld lie folly to maKe the Second Chamber wholly elective, for he did not desire to destroy the undisputed supremacy of the House of Commons. LETTER FROM SIR E. GREY. GOVERNMENTS FULL POLICY WITH REGARD TO LORDS. EXPRESSED IN "KING'S SPEECH. LONDON, 14th April. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for For. eign Affairs, and M.P. for Berwick division of Northumberland, in a letter to the Berwick Liberal Association, states that, though supporting the resolution dealing with the House of Lords' veto (now under discussion in the House of Commons) as one means of overcoming resistance, he doea not consider it a final settlement. He emphasises that the Government's full policy is that expressed iin the King's Speech. If the Association again chooses him as its candidate, he will direct Attention to the Second Chamber's constitution and powers. He hopes that ihc Budget will be passed with all its taxes except such alterations as may be necejsary owiug to the delay that has occurred.