REFORM OF THE LORDS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 67, 1 March 1911, Page 1

REFORM OF THE LORDS

THE SECRET CONFERENCE. |

[PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPX3I<?BT.}

London, Feb. 28. In the House of Commons Mr. Asquith informed Mr. Hany Lawson that all members of the Veto Conference concurred in the decision that there should be no public disclosure of the proceedings. He was neither empowered nor disposed to go back upon that decision. WHY SILENCE WAS MAINTAINED. j The “Times,” commenting on! this, declares that the Unionist leaders concurred in the decision at the express wish of the Liberal leaders and against their own de-| sire. The Liberal leader opposing a request for an official statement argued that if silence were observ-; ed regarding the proceedings ofi conferences the method could be! kept alive for future use if resort l * thereto was desired.

LIKE A PERFECT WIFE. In the House of Commons Mr.' Haldane, declared that a Second | Chamber properly constituted! would be lie a perfect wife; it I would comfort and warn, but not* command. He added that the« Government were pledged to use thei Parliament Bill as « stepping stone > to a reformed Second Chamber. He quoted Mr. Asquith’s speech last March that this reform was urgent, and concluded that it wbuld | be conferring on the other House i a great power, enabling it to reject : a measure thrice. The Labourites, Nationalists, and t others continued to debate. The House was not crowded and the attendance in the dinner hour was; below the quorum. A SUGGESTION. [• Writing to the “Times,” the Duke, of Argyll suggests the estaUish-. ment of local legislatures similar to those of tiie United States, gov-’ ©wring a small area only, which would secure the paramountcy of the Union Government.* Unions ofi counties could be represented in the | Lords and have subordinate legisla- * tive powers.

ELECTIVE CHAMBER ESSENTIAL.

The “Glasgow Herald” says that the conviction is spreading that a. purely elective Second Chamber is’ essential. The reform of the House of Lords would be useless unless it * was approved by the bulk of the Liberals. The schemes based on, Lord Lansdowne’s and Lord Cur-! zon’s proposals are dead. Large constituencies with several mem- * ben elected by proportional representation would so far free the! Second Chamber from ordinary f party divisions. The "Daily News” says that at one moment the only Tory present, at yesterday’s sitting of the House of Commons was Lord Ronaldsbay.: The desertion of the House was due to the fierce war being waged in the Tory camp. Mr. Balfour and his friends are fighting with their backs to the wall against the younger Tories, who favour an elective Second Chamber and the elimination of the hereditary principal. NO LIMITATION OF EXISTING POWERS. The "Daily Mail” confirms the statement that some of the younger Unionists favour & purely elective, basis with a period of a septennate . or a decade without any limitation of the Second Chamber’s existing powers. ITNIONIST complaint. ; London. Feb. 28. A meeting of Unionist M.P.’shas been held to consider the split in . their ranks over the refni.a of the Lords. It is denied that differences had arisen over the proposed changes. A complaint was made by the rank and Sle that the lead ers had not submitted a definite plan. There is every prospect of a settlement.