USE OF MAJORITIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26485, 12 June 1947, Page 5

USE OF MAJORITIES

DIVISIONS ON MAJOR BILLS SHARP DEBATE IN LORDS Rec. 11.30 p.m. LONDON, June 11. The Government was defeated thrice in the House of Lords yesterday during the committee stage of the Transport Bill, twice on minor amendments by 87 votes to 21 and 76 to 20 and thirdly on an amendmnet to leave the docks under their existing management by 71 to 29. Before the third division Lord Addison appealed to the Opposition to be more careful of how it used its vast machine majority. Lord Salisbury, the Opposition leader, immediately retorted that Lord Addison’s suggestion was a form of blackmail to which no responsible Chamber would ever submit “You speak about our machine majority.” he said. “ Would you speak about the machine majority in the House of Commons? ” , , ~ , Lord Addison: That was elected by the pepole. and there is a great difference. Lord’ Salisbury: Not at all. This House has always tried to deal with Bills on their merits. Lord Addison: This non-representa tive Chamber should be frugal in altering proposals passed by a large majority in the representative Chamber. it is not right to smash up the Bill.

Lord Addison said the docks were an integral and important part of the transport system, and the amendment would involve large alterations in other parts of the Bill.