POINTED REMARKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16376, 25 June 1927, Page 5

POINTED REMARKS

REFORM OF THE LORDS PEERS' DIVERSE VIEWS (Australian und N.Z. Cable Association., LONDON, June 23. Lord Russell, resuming the debate on the reform of tho .House of Lords, said it would be camouflage to have a few Labor peers on the front bench to make some show of fairness. If there were a socialist majority in tho House of Commons comparable -with the present Government majority, Labor's adequate representation in the House of Lords would be at least 200 peers. What guarantee was thcro that if men like Messrs. Maxton, Kirkwood and Buchanan were nominated they would accept seats? Tho real object of the Government proposals was to entrench on privilege, and if class war were provoked it would be the Government who provoked it. Baron Thomson assailed Lord Bir-

kenhead for his personal attack on! Lord Parmoor. He said it was a display of Satan rebuking sin in the light of Lord Birkenhead's somersault on Irish home rule. Lord Birkenhead .said there was no inconsistency. "Once the forcible inclusion of North Ireland was abandoned," he said, "I never said a word against home rule." j .Tho'Marquis of Salisbury announced that the Government would support Viscount Fitzallan's motion, because it represented its views. Just as the temporal peers would be asked to select those most worthy to represent them so would the spiritual peers. His own impression was that the political color of tho peers might, be settled by proportional representation.

Earl Russell:,; "What about Labor peers V’ The Marquis of Salisbury: "I admit they are a difficulty. It is because of that avo come to the other proposals. With regard to nomination after reform is completed, the somewhat undignified process of swamping the peers with big ucav creations tvould be impossible. The Marquess of Reading protested that the matter should first be decided by the electorate. Was it intended there should be a majority of hereditary peers? ; The Marquis of Salisbury: "Personally I think there must bo a large majority. j The Archbishop of Canterbury, - supporting the motion, agreed Avith the desire of the other great churches of England, Scotland and Ireland to be represented, but as there were p 8 of them, it would be impossible for all to bo represented. He would gladly avclcomo a plan to meet their desires.