The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1910 THE IMPERIAL OUTLOOK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13035, 31 March 1910, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1910 THE IMPERIAL OUTLOOK.

Seldom in the political history of the Old Country has keener interest been displayed in the proceedings of the House of Commons than is to-day being taken in the discussion on the resolutions submitted by Hr Asquith. He has at last thrown down the gauntlet, and is concentrating his Parliamentary forces on the Veto question. It must be plain that the policy of Veto before Budget is the only policy likely to ' be successful. So long as the Prime Minister puts Redress —for that is in effect the substance of the resolutions he has tabled —before Supply he is in the position of i bridge player who has control of every suit. It would be madness to lose control oy playing out his leading trump—the Budget. Mr Asquith therefore has moved three resolutions. The first affirms that ;he House of Lords shall be disabled by .aw for rejecting or amending money Bills. The second resolution restricts the power of the Lords in regard to other legislation, and sets forth in effect that ;he Lords cannot refuse to pass a measure which has passed the Commons three successive sessions. The third resolution limits he duration of Parliament, to-five years, ihe Liberal Party in Great Britain, like nany of our churches, embraces men of widely divergent opinions. Between the ladical “stalwarts” ' who are avowedly ungle-Chamber men, and moderates who idvocate an elective second Chamber, .here is a great political gulf fixed, and ;hat gulf runs right through the party. _t has been Mr Asquith’s task to find a policy which will hold the support of ;he extremists without alienating the noderates, and vice versa. To keep Labour members in political line with Aberals not quite so advanced in their news is an achievement that might well iax the leadership of the most astute Par-" aaiffentary tactician. But, in addition, ;he Prime Minister must obtain the assistance of the Irish Nationalists if he is to carry his Veto proposals. Against this :olleotion of virtually independent sections —the Labourites, the Radicals,' ' the noderate Liberals, and the Irishmen—stands a formidable .united Opposition in; she House of Commons, and a House of Lords which has already affirmed, on the notion of Lord Rosebery, the desirability; )f reforming itself rather than submitting’ ;o any interference with its Veto. Even: f we grant that Mr. Asquith has justice* and commonsense on his side, that the! continuance of the Veto of the House of Lords is a preposterous anachronism, -and ha,V Parliamentary government is a’farce I is ,loug as the’ will of the people can be overruled by an hereditary caste, still, inly an optimist can now see a reasonable prospect of a decisive victory for the cause if government by: the people in the pre- • :ent condition ’of parties in the House of lonimons. Though many schemes have oeen put .forward, it is probable that a majority- of Mr Asquith’s followers have Up■. desire'i whatever to see the .House of Lords reformed on an elective or any other basis unless at the same time its power of veto is strictly limited, and in "his important respect Lord Rosebery’s resolutions fell short of what is required. If course, such a contention does not find avour with the Unionists, who argue that ■he restriction of the Veto is tantamount to the establishment of the Single Chamber principle, and allege that the Government would court defeat if it put forward such v proposal at the next general election. Vhether this is put forward or not, the shadow of a. second election has already alien upon the situation, and the shadow items more than likely to take substantial form at no distant, date, although there ipems every probability that Mr Asquith will have a fairly good majority when the vote is taken within, the next day or two.