REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 7

REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

STATEMENT JSY THE PBIMH MINISTER. Press Association—Ky Telegraph—Copyilglit. LOXDOX. March 20. (Roceivcd March 20, at 9.51 p.m.) Sir H. Campbell-Jkniiennan, in a letter to Mr Beaumont, a. memixsr of the House of Commons, declared that there was not an atom of foundation for the report that, the Government was not in earnest about tlw reform of the House of Lords, tie. lias also written to Mr Maclcarness slating that tho (lovcrninent. would not disappoint the expectations of the party or fail to givo effect to the purpose declared ill tho King's Speech. Tim Edinburgh correspondent of tho Fall Mall Gazette writes:—"Scottish Liberal platforms vinar just now with donunoialions of the House of Lords. But whilo there is a general agreement, with regard to the alleged cfclinc|ueneies of tho peers, scarcely two of tho critics of the Upper House am found to agree, as 1o I lift particular steps which ought 1o he adopteti in order to bring that. Chamber into a condition of which Liberals could approve. When one suggests that Ihe House should be 'reformed.' another promptly objects that reform would mean strengthening— and (here must be 110 strengthening. The Lord Advocate lias suggested a scheme which includes (ho creation of a sufficient number of new peers to swamp the House. Forthwith his eolicagne, tho Solicitorgcncral for Scotland,- protests that the 'good setiso of tho nation' would reject this. The Liberal member for South Edinburgh, Mr Artluu* Dcwar, went out of his way the other evening to .sneer uf; Mr Gladstone's proposal as to ' Idling tlio cup.' He saw, 110 remarked, that 'somo one had said the other day that they should go on sending up measures 0110 after the other to the. House of Lords, and should lake note of what the Hoti?c o£ Lords did.' Hut. Mr Dcwar reminded ihis ' someone'—rather a contemptuous way, surely, of alluding to a. member of tho Cabinet and one of bis own leaders .'--that 'time was fast fleeting inlo eternity.' Ho demanded a. more speedy solution. Altogether. it is evident that, so far as Scottish Liberals are concerned, at. anyrate. the party's ideas with regard to the Upper House are absolutely chaotic. They cannot even utter the parrot-cry of 'Down with the Lords!' .in unison, for whilo some are 'ender.?,' others, are only ' mender;.'"