REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13940, 27 June 1907, Page 7

REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT,

SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR,

THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION.

Press Association—By Telejraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 25. Mr Balfour, in the course of an elaborate constitutional argument in the debate on the Prime Minister's resolution dealing with the relorm of tho Home of Lords, maintained that tho House of Commons was the predominant partner, but. was not competent- within tho term of its own existence to deal with the entire interests of the Stat,; without further reference to the people, who were the trustees of posterity. "Nobody," he said, "knows better than Sir H, CampbellBannerman that it requires less than five years for a Government to get out of touch with the people." He asked: "]f the Government if> sincere, why indefinitely defer the bill it had foreshadowed!" 11 r Balfour also stated that so far as his own action was concerned, no defence was required. What he did had been done publicly. The course which the Lords took V'as taken in the public interest, and the people were far from agreeing with Kir H. Uampbell-Baniwman'6 violent epithets against that House. lie thought that the amendments made in the Education Bill by the House of Lords were a great improvement. In the enures of his speech Sir IT. Camp-bell-Bannerman declared against the principle of a referendum. Mr Shackletou (Labour) wished to end the Lords. Discussion in the lobbies showed that the Liberals are greatly divided. Some declare the proposals would delay legislation, but their chief fear is that the people at a dissolution would give a verdict- in favour of leaving well enough alone. At best, they say, the majority would ho small, and tho Lords would continue their existence, LONDON, June 26. - (Received June 26, at 11.46 p.m.) Mr .Lee, Sir John Laws-on Walton, Lord Robert Cecil, Captain Kincaid-Smith, Mr A. Lyttelton, and Mr Winston-Churchill continued the debate on Sir 11. CampbellUannerman's resolutions respecting tho reform of tho House of Lords. Mr A. Henderson moved an amendment in favour of the abolition of the House of Lords,