THE BRITISH CRISIS

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143574, 12 August 1911, Page 3

THE BRITISH CRISIS

PARLIAMENT BILL PASSED. THE SCENE IN THE LORDS. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, August 11. The diplomatic gallery in the House of Lords and the Chamber itself were crowded. During the debate Lord Morley ridiculed the proposal that the Government in November should have suggested to the King to see the Opposition leaders. Replying to Lord St. Aldwyn. Lord Morley said the Sovereign had a communication with Mr. Balfour and Lord Lansdowne the other day. He was unable to say whether the same opportunity was given in November. Lord Lansdowne interjected; No such oportimity was given. Lord Camperdown announced that he would support the Government, though he detested the Bill. Tho Duke of Norfolk immediately declared that, despite his promise to Lord Lansdowne, he would vote v ith Lord Halsbury, in order to cancel Lord Camperdown’s vote. Lord Halifax similarly declared. Tho Archbishop of Canterbury said he had hoped to abstain from voting, but the callousness and levity wherewith some of the peers contemplated the creatiop of 500 peers, which would make the House and the country the laughing stock of tho Dominions overseas, caused him to support tho Government.

Lord Rosebery hotly denounced the Government’s behaviour towards a young and inexperienced King, who had only been flnir or five months on the Throne, but the Bill must pass. It would leave the House some force to resist the Government's dangerous measures. He voted for the Bill, hoping the Empire would be spared a scandal which would weaken the hold of the centre parts of the Empire upon the component parts. Lord, Selborne, in closing the debate, made a vehement denunciation of Lord Rosebery’s attitude. The country was safer with a recognised single chamber system than it would be with the proposed emasculated House of Lords. He agreed with the other House of Commons amendments. There was intense excitement when Lord Loreburn put the question whether the House agreed with Lord Morley’s motion not to insist on Lord Lans'downe’s amendment re excluding Home Rule.

The Ministerialists cried “Content,” whilst the Halsburyites in a chorus cried “Non-content,” Many Unionists, with a- few others, joined the Cabinet Ministers and Privy Councillors behind the Throne to watch the division.

The opposing forces seemed practically equal. The Halsburyites, if anything, seemed the more numerous. Eleven Bishops, accompanied by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, went into the Government lobby.

Seeing the danger, thirty Unionists at the last moment joined the Ministerialists.

There was profound silence when Lord Loreburn announced- the result; For the motion, 131 ; against, 111. The result was greeted with a few Ministerial cheers, and Opposition cheers.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. The Parliament Bill, which, after receiving the King’s consent, will now become law, provides for a considerable restriction of the power of the House of Lords. It enacts first that a Money Bill, passed by the Commons, shall become law, whether the Lords approve it or not. Whether any Bill is a purely money Bill is to be decided by the Speaker with a committee of four to assist him. It has long been recognised that the Lords should not reject Money Billj, so this only crystallises old custom.

The really important change made by the Bill is the provision that if any Bill, other than a Money Bill, is passed by the House of Commons - in three successive sessions and three times rejected by the Lords, it shall become law in despite of the Lords, provided that at least two years shall elapse between the date of'the introduction of the Bill in the Commons and the date on which it passes that House for the third time. This danse is the one which had caused all the talk of revolution, PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. LONDON, August 11. Tho House of Commons carried Mr. Lloyd George’s motion in favour of payment of members. ATTITUDE OF CONSERVATIVES. ; (Received August 12, 10.30 a’.m.) LONDON, August 11. Conservative journals express the hope that the Conservatives will now unite and continue the great struggle ahead. _ Some papers publish a black list of Unionist peers who voted for the ‘‘Betrayal.” REJOICINGS IN THE COMMONS. (Received August 12, 8.15 a.m.) LONDON, August 11. Tho chief demonstration over the passage of the Parliament Bill was in the House of Commons, which was discussing Mr. Lloyd-George’s motion for the payment of members. Exultant cheers were given from the Government benches, and the demonstration continued until the Payment of Members Bill was passed. Messrs. Lee, Hayes-Fishcr, and Chamberlain vigorously opposed the Bill.