The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1911. LENGTH OF BRITISH PARLIAMENTS.

Southland Times, Issue 14632, 24 January 1911, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1911. LENGTH OF BRITISH PARLIAMENTS.

It is interesting to note that since the passing of the Septennial Act limiting the duration of Parliament to seven years not one House of Commons has died a natural death, and only two have lived close up to the time when the operation of the Act would have put an end to them. The first Parliament in the reign of George V., which was dissolved in November of last year lasted virtually 322 days. It is not by an/ meant the shortest Parliament of modern times; a dissolution took place on June 26, ISS6, after the party in power had held office for 169 days. Since the reign of George 111., the length of British Parliaments has varied considerably. The shortest was that which assembled on December 15, 1806, and was dissolved on April 29, 1807, having thus lasted only four months and fourteen days. The three longest Parliaments were those of 1820-26, which covered a period of six years, one month, ten days; 1859-65, which dissolved after an existence of six years, one month, six days; and 1874-80, which existed six years and twenty days. It is a noteworthy fact that the last occasion on which the prerogative of the Sovereign to dissolve Parliament at pleasure was exercised was in 1834; when the Melbourne Administration was dismissed by the per-

sonal act of William IV. Peel, who was called to office, of course, found an immediate dissolution necessary. He was in a minority of nearly 300, and his only chance lay in an appeal to the country. The elections greatly Improved his position, but he came back in a minority still, and soon had to make way again for Lord Zvlelbourne. The mammoth Parliament of 1841, elected expressly to maintain the Corn Laws, but destined under the guidance of Peel to abolish them, was dissolved at the end of its sixth year by Peel’s resignation. An immense change in the franchise -was made by the Reform Bill of 1867, and it rendered an immediate appeal to the country imperative. It might have been supposed that the Parliament which assembled in December, 1868, would have lived through all its days. But the fates were adverse, and iu four years Mr Gladstone’s Government was defeated on the second reading of the Irish University Education Bill. Mr Gladstone resigned, but, as Mr Disraeli refused office, had to resume his position as First Lord. His authority over the House, however, was’ gone, and in 1874 he felt compelled to consult public opinion by a dissolution. Then came the Parliament over which Lord Beaconsfield exercised undisputed ascendency, and which was dissolved after running a course of six years, twenty days. The election of 1880 gave Mr Gladstone a majority over the whole House of upwards of sixty votes, but it. was soon reduced to less than a score. Eventually he was beaten on the Budget, and resigned office. Lord Salisbury succeeded him, and the General Election, which had become necessary owing to the Reform and Redistribution Bills of 1884-85, took place in November. With the aid of the Irish* vote, Mr Gladstone turned out the Tories, and embarked on the first Home Rule campaign. His triumph, however, was transitory, and early in June his Bill was thrown out by a majority of thirty. He immediately advised a dissolution. The Parliament, w’hich had only been elected a few months before, was thus brought to an early end. It was one of, the shortest known in British Parliamentary history. In the election that followed Mr Gladstone was overwhelmingly beaten, and the new House lasted nearly six years under the sdcond ministry of Lord Salisbury. In due course it was dissolved, and Mr Gladstone once more found himself in office. But his second attempt to pass a Home Rule Bill failed. He was succeeded as Prime Minister by the Earl of Rosebery, whose Government came to an unexpected end In 1895. On June 21, the House, while discussing the War Office Vote, was asked to say that the stock of cordite was inadequate, and when the division was taken the Government was found to be in a minority. The following day Lord Rosebery went to Windsor and tendered his resignation to Queen Victoria. Lord Salisbury then returned to office, and at the' election which ensued found himself supported by the largest majority which had been seen at Westminster since the days of Earl Grey. Parliament lasted for five years and some seven or eight days. In 1900, the Conservatives were again returned to power, and remained in office till the end of 1905. At the beginning of the 1900 Parliament the Conservatives had a majority of 134, but they lost twentyone seats at bye-elections, while twelve Conservatives went over to the Liberal side, and eventually tha Ministerial majority was reduced almost by one-half. They had still a working majority, but events that followed brought about a sensational climax. On November 14, 1905, the National Union of Conservative Associations resolved to support Mr Chamberlain’s Tariff Reform policy, and the same might Mr Balfour, speaking at a great meeting at Newcastle, appealed for party unity on a policy of retaliation. The position of the Government at length became impossible, and Mr Balfour was urged to resign. Ou December 4 he relinquished the Premiership, and the following day Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman took up the reins of office. A General Election followed in January, 1906, and the Liberals were returned to power with the greatest majority of modern times. The dissolution of this Parliament and the two General Elections of 1910 are too recent to require mention here, but it will at once become apparent, after a perusal of the foregoing, that the Party system of Government is a wonderful and a fearful thing.