HOUSE OF LORDS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 39, 22 June 1927, Page 5

HOUSE OF LORDS

REFOR?4 discussed.

SOIIE FOR3I OF ELECTION NEEDED. MINISTRY’S PROPOSALS. Press Association- Coy pright, Austratralian and N.Z- Cable Assomauon. LONDON, June 20. In the House of Lords, a debate on the reform of the House of Louts v.-as initialed by Lord Fitzalan, who moved a motion welcoming some reasonable meausre of limiting and delining the membership. Dealing with the inherest defec o in the Parliament Act, Lord Fitalan said he did not desire to impair the traditions or privileges of the House of Lords, but they must look the facts in the face, and the House should have an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the question of reform. . < Personally he would like to see the House consist of a reduced number elected by their lordships. The time had come when the preponderance of hereditary principle was no longer practicable. Election in some-form from outside wa s necessary. tie suggested that a portion be elected by their lordships, bins an outside elective element, and also some Government nominations. The Socialist Party, if it got the chance, said Lord Fitzalan, would legislate for the single chamber system; there he appealed to the House to show an unselfish spirit and safeguard the country from such a revolutionary change. URGENT PROBLEM.

The Lord Chancellor said there was a real and urgent problem to solve. After consideration by Cabinet of the committee’s report the Ministry 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 be decided by a joint committee of both Houses instead of solely by the Speaker. Such a Bill as the Ministry proposed would be a safeguard. No Bill altering the constitution and powers of the House of Lords should be passed into law without the Lords’ assent. The Ministry’s plan not include proposals dealing with deadlocks between the two Houses. LABOUR REPRESENTATION.

. If such a vital proposal were made it would have to he considered whether it should continue as an hereditary House or whether some elective body would take its place. Therefore the Government excluded deadlocks and also the elective element. Machinery must be found under which representation of the Labour Party was possible; therefore it was proposed that the Sovereign act on the lines of the Bryce report, and limit the number of nominated members to be appointed for 12 years, a third of whom to go out every fourth year.

It was further proposed That the hereditary peers be called upon to select from their own ranks a fixed number of peers on the same terras of tenure. The reformed House would consist of not more than 250 members composed of peers of Royal blood, lords spiritual, law lords and hereditary peers elected by their own order and member s nominated by the Crown. A more ambitious schenfe might have more attractions, but this was a cautious step in the right direction. There might be a greater danger in standing still. Lord Haldane said that if they tried to strengthen the House of Lords against the House of Commons the Labour Party would fight the proposals to the end. The debate was adjourned.