LIFE PEERAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22527, 22 March 1935, Page 9

LIFE PEERAGES

LORD ROCKLEY'S PROPOSAL MESSAGE FROM THE KING LONDON, March 20. In the House of Lords, Lord Shaftesbury, referring to Lord Rockley's proposal, read the following message from the King:—" Relying on the wisdom of my Parliament, I desire that my prerogative relating to the creation of peerages should not stand in the way of Parliament's consideration of a measure relating to the limited creation of life peerages."

A message received on March 8 stated: In the House of Lords a discussion on reform of the Upper House arose when Lord Hockley, formerly Mr Evelyn Cecil, a member of the House of Commons, moving for a petition to his Majesty to waive his prerogative in order to allow Parliament in the present session to discuss the limited creation of life peerages, intimated that, if the petition was granted, he would introduce a Bill. This was not a party vote. He was acting on his own responsibility. The constitution 'of the House could not remain adamant indefinitely against variation or amendment. Though so far an agreed scheme had not been reached, he thought common ground was achievable for modest alteration. Viscount Hailsham said that the Government, without committing itself regarding the Bill, would not oppose it, and would advise his Majesty to assent to the petition. The Marquess of Salisbury said the Government must reach some policy on House of Lords reform before the election, or thereafter it would be claimed that there was no mandate on the subject. Lord Hockley's motion was carried without a" division.