OUR LETTERS. OUR LONDON LETTER. (from our own correspondent) London, August 1.

Otago Witness, Issue 1713, 20 September 1884, Page 22

OUR LETTERS. OUR LONDON LETTER. (from our own correspondent) London, August 1.

The excitement over the rejection of tho Franchise Bill by the House of Lords has been growing in intensity ; and as tha leaders of the Lords appear to have put their foot down, the collision between the peers an -4 the people seems inevitable. The moderate proposal for compromise made by Lord Wemyss, to proceed with the consideration of the bill on condition that; Parliament should be summoned in the autumn for the purpose of considering a Redistribution Bill, was rejected with something akin to indignation, if not contempt, to the peers, but it was noticed ao significant that' the majority was considerably leas than that which had shelved the measure. The fisry spirits in the Lorda are bent on mischief ; so, Ushing up their followers to the fight, the leaders show not the smallest symptom of seekicg to evade tho conflict. All over the country the Liberal and Radical patty are organising, and by mass moetinpu and fiery harangues aro spurring themselves onward to the fij?hv. The vast assemblage in Hyde Park was the modt imposing spectacle I ever witnessed. The organisation was hardly; able to control the details necessary to marshalling so large a host, and the formality of

voting tho renolutions was performed before ono-half the procession bad been able to filo iuto tha Park and assemble near the platforms But so far as huge masses of human beings can create a profound impression, that effect was to bo found at a thousand points, for all the streots for miles preseuted one unbroken seething mass of moving humanity. But lam forced to confess that the imp) ossion conveyed to ryes accustomed to Colonial pcones was a aaddoniug ono, for it was irnpos siblo to refrain from comparing a Colonial procession of artisans or trades unions with the procession filing through the streets of London. There was an ovident attempt to appear to the best advantage, and doubtless the apparel was thoir Sunday best. But nothing could move impressively show tho poverty and fparful struggle for existence that are the common lot of the humblor classes in and around thi3 gr. at city than a scrutiny of the faces and general appearance of tho members of tho different trade unions and societies of workers as they filed past under their respective banners. Anything more striking than the contrast in physique and bearing between these diminutive and sickly-looking men and men of the samo class »3 they appear in procession in soma^of the New Zealand cities or towns it ia_ difficult to describe. Sincerely as ono may wish them well in their present stiu^gle for the extension of the franchise, one could hardly suppress the thought that the leaders of the people would be fivr hotter employed in devising some way for putting bread in thoir mouths instead of ballotpapers in their bands.