A CAUTIOUS STEP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16373, 22 June 1927, Page 7

A CAUTIOUS STEP

REFORM OF THE LORDS REDUCTION IN NUMBERS THE MINISTRY'S PROPOSALS (Ele.e. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.l (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.* LONDON, June 20. In the House of Lords, a debate on the reform of the Lords was initiated by Viscount Fitz Alan, who proposed | a motion welcoming some reasonable | measure of limiting and defining ; membership, and dealing with inner- ; out defects in the Parliament Act. He said ho did not desire* to impair the 1 traditions or privileges of the House I of Lords, but they must look facts in ! the face, and the House should have 'an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the question of reform. Compared with the Hlmse of Commons they had 720 members against 015, .vet in the largest post-war division in the Lords only 208 had voted. Personally, he would like to, see the , House consist of a reduced number j elected by their Lordships. The time had come when the preponderance of the hereditary principle was no longer practicable. An election in some form from outside was necessary. He suggested that portion be elected by their Lordships, plus an outside elective element, also some Government nominations. The Socialist party, if it got a chance, would legislate for a single Chamber. Therefore, he appealed to the House to show an unselfish spirit and safeguard the country from a revolutionary change. The Duke of Marlborough moved an amendment, that in view of the failure of the scheme of reform to arouse interest, further discussion on the point was inopportune and unprofitable. REFORM A WEAKNESS The Earl of Arran moved a further amendment, that in view of the omission of so grave an alteration in the Constitution from the Government's election programme, it would be contrary to Parliamentary practico to introduce the measure till the electorates had expressed its views. He expressed the opinion that if there was any alteration in the hereditary principle, it must bo its entire abolition, otherwise it would be a source of weakness in the reformed Chamber. v The "Lord Chancellor said there was a real and urgent problem to solve. In a further consideration by Cabinet of the committee's report, the Ministry had expressed the opinion that Parliament should be asked to accept the proposals of the Bryce committee and enact that the question of whether the Bill was a money Bill should bo decided by a joint committee of both Houses, instead of solely by the Speaker. It was possible a Bill completely abolishing the second Chamber might be regarded as within the letter of the Parliament Act, and might throw on the Sovereign the responsibility of deciding whether or not to withhold tho Royal assent. Such a Bill as the Ministry proposed would be a safeguard. No Bill altering the Constitution and the powers of tho House of Lords should be passed into law without, the Lords' assent. The Ministry's plan did not include proposals dealing with deadlocks between the two Houses. It had been suggested that in such a case the provisions pf the Parliament Act should not apply till the electorate had decided, but Mr. Baldwin had said his proposals would come within the framework of the Parliament Act, and such change as that suggested might be difficult; to make without first submitting it to the electorate. REPRESENTATION 01} LABOR Besides, continued the Lord Chancellor, if it were insisted upon it would raise the whole question of the continuance of the House of Lords in its present form. If such a vital proposal were made it would have to be considered whether, it should continue as a hereditary House or whether some elective body would take its place. Therefore, tho Government had excluded deadlocks and also the elective element. Machinery must be found under which the representation of tho Labor Party was possible. Therefore, it was proposed that the Sovereign should act on the lines of the Bryce report and a limited number of nominated members be appointed for 12 years, one-third of whom are to go out every fourth year. It was further proposed that hereditary Peers be called upon to select from their own ranks a fixed number of Peers on the same terms of tenure.

The reformed House would tlic'n consist of not more than 250 members, composed of Peers of the Royal Blood, Lords spiritual, law Lords, and hereditary Peers selected by their own order, and members nominated by the Crown, the number of the last two (dasses to be determined by statute. With the exception of the Royal, law, and spiritual Peers, the others would hold seats for a term fixable by statute and be eligible for re-election. Those not elected would be eligible for election to the House of Commons. A more ambitious seheme might have more attractions, but this was a cautious step in the right direction. There might be a greater danger in standing still. If the matter were fairly raised r»nd faeed courageously, it might avert, danger and restore strength to -the Constitution's fabric.

Lord Haldano said that if they tried to strengthen the House of Lords against the * House of Commons the JLnbor Party would fight the proposals to the end. Tho debate was adjourned.