THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14361, 6 February 1911, Page 3

THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

_— — ♦- • WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE. . I venture to predict, writes Sir Henry Lucv, from London, under auto lutli Oeteuiuer, to iho Sy<tucy Herald, 'iliat m far-reaching consequences tho legislative, action of the. larhameut tmit. meedi en 31st January will equal,il not exceed, tho momentous legislation o* tho Parliament of 18(38, which loimd Oludstone, "unmuzzled," leador oU majority, which tliougli equal to the occasion, fiO.ll considerably short ol that eager to collaborate wii.li Mr AsquiUi. The lirst business that will bo taken i'l hand is that for tho accdmplishmont or' which tiro country has this niontli sent members to the House of Commons. Tim Parliament Bill will bo reintroduced and missed through all its stages immediately tho Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne has been voted. It will forthwith be sent on to tho House of Lords, who will find themselves in a position not l«=s critical than that which faced their grandfathers in tho spring of 1832, when tho Reform Bill, thrown out by them in the previous session, was reintroduced. In-July, 18131, tho Lords ret'uued it a second reading by 41 votes. In April, 1832, it was conceded by a majority »f nine. Repent ing their surrender," the Lord?, within a month, attempted to get rid of the Bill in committee by a side wind. Earl Grey, thereupon resigned. The Duke of Wellington and Lord Lyndhurst failed to form a Ministry, and Earl Grey resumed office. ' armed with authority, • with difficulty wrung from an unwilling Sovereign, to make as rnnny new Peers as were necessary to carry the Bill. That sufficed. Through further stages of the Bill noble Lords slunk away from tho division lobby, and in their absence it was added to the statute book.

This glance backwards is useful and interesting as indicating what will tnfco place before the month of February, shortest of tho twelve, has sped. It may not follow identical lines. But it will certainly have analogous result, inasmuch, that the Parliament Bill will be added to the statute book. In the closing days of last session the Prime Minister properly declined to make public ' announcement of what had passed between tho King and himself on the subject of guarantees that in this matter the will of the public, declared at the polls, should be carried into effect. In private conversation Ministers are less reticent, and it is known beyond doubt that, as might bo expected from a. Sovereign loyal to constitutional principle.*, such assurance has been given and if necessary will bo made available to the fullest limit.