W. E. A.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 14 April 1926, Page 2

W. E. A.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. A departure from the usual course of lectures was made by Mr Brotherton at the W.E.A. Class at Hawera on Monday evening, a brief survey of some of the most recent constitutional developments in Britain being given instead. After dealing with the Revolution settlement of 1688-9 and ‘the rise of Cabinet Government, the Parliament Act of 1911 was reviewed. “This Act,” said the lecturer, “is in itself incomplete and was intended to be part of a scheme that was to include the reform of the House, of ■Lords, which since the passing of the Act has now no power except to delay a measure which, in the event of its rejection by the Lords for three consecutive sessions, goes to the King in the same way as it would had it been passed by the Upper House: This may possibly lead to a revival of the Royal veto, as if the King were confident that the majority in the Commons did not represent the majority ini the country, he would be justified in using the veto to force a dissolution.” The lecturer also pointed out that the great constitutional problem of the future would be the adoption of the constitution: t<4 meet the needs of a two-party system to deal with the situation created .by the presence of a third party, which, held the balance of power between the other two, as at present there was no means, except a coalition, that could enable the Government to be carried on, and it might easily happen that the parties might be so divided in principle that no lasting alliance could be formed. The regular course of lectures will be resumed next Monday evening.