BRITISH POLITICS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10415, 30 March 1910, Page 4

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE LABOR PARTY'S ATTITUDE. Pj Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] "'" (Per Press Association.) Received March 29, at 9.20 p.m. London, March 29. Mr Jowett, M.P. for West Bradford, who is presiding at the Independent Labor Party Conference in London, stated that" party government had reached the inevitable deadlock. The days of large majorities were numbered, and the Labor members of the House should vote on every occasion according to their* convictions,, leaving the question of convenience to others. The late election showed that there was a substantial majority against the Lords, but if the Nationalists voted against the Budget, the case against the Lords would be gone, because the country as a whole would interpret the rejection of the. Budget to mean that Mr Asquith x had allowed the contest between the two Houses to lapse. There would be an agitation for reform of the House of Lords, over which election after election -would possibly be fought, to the exclusion of other vital questions.

TACKLING THE QUESTION. Received March 30, at 11.40 a.m. London, March 29. There was a crowded House when Parliament resumed after the Easter recess. The Prince of Wales and many ambassadors were present. ' ■ Messrs Asquith and Balfour met with enthusiastic receptions. The Premier moved that the House resolve itself into a committee to consider the relations of the two Houses, and the duration of Parliament. He admitted that he had changed his youthful opinions and now considered two chambers expedient, and proceeded to develop a long constitutional argument to prove that the limitation of the veto and the" shortening of the duration of Parliaments was the most practical way of securing tlyit the popular will should not be frustrated. He said the referendum and the joint session of (he two Houses, as was provided by the Australian constitution, was inadmissible under the existing circumstances, inid concluded by claiming that the House of Lords' power of absolute -veto must follow, the Crown's veto before the advance of full-grown and unfettered, democracy. Mr Balfour is now replying.