MONDAY'S SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13169, 27 July 1911, Page 2

MONDAY'S SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT THE PREMIER INTENDED

TO SAY,

LORD LANSDOWNE'S POSITION

[Press Association—Copyright.] - Lontson^hily 25. A comparatively snuill body oj members was responsible for the disorders in the House of Commons. The majority of Unionists in the lobby strong, ly deprecated and condemned personal discourtesy to Mr Asquith. The notes of Mr Asquith's speech were afterwards circulated. The JL Jress declares that Mr Asquith intended to say that the Government had not been indisposed to accept the' safeguarding amendments in the Veto Bill, but that the Lords had substituted in the measure amendments already rejected by the electorates. Mr Asquith derided Lord Lansdowne't amendment to clause 2, giving the joint committee power to exclude Bills, and raising issues of great gravity, as such an amendment amounted to a rejection of the measure. Mi Asquith intended to conclude by detailing the precedent of 1832, and to argue that the advice given to tlie Crown, which the Crown had accepted, had been warranted by constitutional principles, there being nothing derogatory or humiliating to a great party. Admitting defeat the lattoi had only to convince their fellowcountrymen that they were right and the Government wrong, and tliej could then repeal the Bill, believin;. that a chance of a satisfactory issue might thereby be improved.

Mr Asquith, on entering the House, was wildly cheered, while Mr Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, was received with Ministerial "boos."

Lord Hugh Cecil, on putting a question, was greeted with uproar whiel. lasted three minutes.

Lord Lansdowne has circularised Opposition peers asking whether the,\ are prepared to support his policy.

It is estimated that 130 peers arc opposed to Lord Lansdowne.

Lord Londonderry supports Lord Lansdowne on the ground that otherwise the respite of two years'will be lost, instead of the period being used to fight Irish Home Rule.

Fifty members of the House of Com mons will attend" Lord Halsbury's ban. quet.

Owing to the political crisis the King will remain in town.