BRITISH ELECTORAL REFORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 21

BRITISH ELECTORAL REFORM.

A COMPROMISE. (By Cable.) Lord Selborne, in the House of Lords, moved that the House do not insist upon the proportional representation iimendment, but insert an amendment upon the lines which Mr Asquith suggested. Lord Selborne said the existing scheme inflicted a cruel injustice upon agriculture. Proportional representation was in accord with the highest democratic principles. He had no forebodings about this tremendous experiment in democracy, provided Parliament applied the only principle which could give a real reflection of the people's will. As a compromise he asked the House of Lords to return the Bill with a clause giving effect to the recommendation of the Speaker's conference. Lord Selborne's motion was carried by 86 votes to 35. Lord Harcourt said the Lords were heading straight for another defeat, but would not dare to destroy" the Bill and face a national disaster. Lord Lansdowne appealed to Lord Curzon to throw his weight on the side of Lord Selborne's reasonable compromise. The responsibility of wrecking the Bill would be with the House of Commons.

Lord Crewe said he desired the experiment to be tried, but he did not believe the House of Commons would accept the scheme. A serious objection would be the London opposition. Lord Curzon said it was essential to prevent the two Houses coming into conflict. Certainly the Lords had not shown a wrecking attitude. Personally he hoped the experiment would be made of proportional representation. The House insisted upon the amendment, rejecting the alternative vote by 66 votes to 29. The House of Commons, by 238 votes to 141, rejected the ,House of Lords' compromise on proportional representation. The House of Lords then considered the House of Commons' reasons for disagreement with the House of Lords on the franchise question. Lord Curzon said the Government was prepared to accept the appointment of a commission to consider proportional representation. The Government was anxious for an experiment in proportional representation, but could not become responsible for passing a measure that was distasteful to the House of Commons. Lord Lansdowne's amendment was carried, appointing commissioners to prepare a scheme whereby 100 members would be elected to the House of Commons iipon the principle of proportional representation for British constituencies returning three or more members; this scheme to be submitted to Parliament, and if approved to become law. Tho Lords, by 74 votes to 33, struck out the amended version of the alternative vote in order to prevent tho loss of the Franchise Bill. The House of Commons agreed to the Lords' amendments, and the session ended. A now session will begin on the 12th inst.