LORDS AND LIBERALS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8834, 10 June 1907, Page 2

LORDS AND LIBERALS.

Per Press Association— Copyright. London; June 8. Speaking at the Conference of the National Liberal Federation at Plymouth, I the Bight Hon. Thomas Shaw, Lord Advo< cate for Scotland, referring to the House of Lords said the die was cast and it would be a people's struggle for the mastery of the House of dommons. Sir H. Canipbsll Bannerman's scheme would leave no beating about the bush. . t, -n In the evening at a meeting in the Drill Hall, Sir H. Campbell Bannerman, addressing a gathering of 6,000, declared that the harmony of the Liberal party, both inside and outside the House, was perfect and never so great as at present. It had gained rather than lost in intensity. The House of Lords bad been responsible for enormous waste of time. Successive blows by the Lords at the authority of the Commons, though directed against particular measures were part of a general scheme discrediting any Liberal government. The very existence of liberalism as a power in the State depends on the struggle whereon Government are embarking. If self-respecting Liberalise, with-the country behind it, was unable to force its policy it had better go down in asserting its rights than linger as a shadow of Government. Tlip Lords had abused their powers within the constitution, and tho Liberals in assigning them their proper place are defending the constitution, which the Lords are straining. The time for compromising, temporizing and expostulating has gone, and the Lords must bo told that tho people must be masters in their own House. According to accepted constitutional doctrine the last word and ultimate supremacy rest with tho Commons.

The Times declares that Government's plan is apparently in nowise an attempt to secure the expression of the permanent intentions of the people Its plan of putting a party majority of the Commons in a position of supremacy was never intended, as it would fundamentally alter the constitution and defeat the Government's professed objocts.