THE VETO BILL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13421, 7 July 1911, Page 5

THE VETO BILL.

DEBATE IN THE LOROS. THE REFERENDUM. Lord Lansdowne's Amendment. Carried by 253 to 46. Press Association—Telegraph.—Copyright. Received July 7. 8.30 a.m. LONDON, July (i. In the House of Lords, Lord Weardale resumed the debate on the Veto Hill. He declared that the Government had made a profound mistake in not adopting tho principle of the referendum. Regarding Lord Morley’s contention that tho referendum would bo destructive of representative Government, he said he had seen this take many forms. Twenty-live years ago Liberal opinion had its say whichever quarter it came from, and it influenced Liberal action. They nowadays had the closure, the caucus, and gioup systems; hence, owing to the altered conditions the referendum was now indispensable, and it was necessary for the security of the State. He argued that representative Government was now tending not to liberty but to oligarchy. The country had .accepted the principle of Home Rule, hul Ihal did not imply all forms of Ho me Hide. The Government claimed a mandate for lids Bill, hut this mandate did not imply an unalterable sacrosanct measure. The passing of iho Bill would open the floodgates of faction strife, and perhaps lead to reaction. Ho appealed to the Government to reconsider the matter, and make a final settlement. Viscount Haldane replied that Ibe referendum had been rejected systematically by Democracies right through modern times. It was only used in Australia when two Houses differed regarding the constitution. (Loud Tnionist cheers). The Government would not have the referendum in any conceivable circumstances. Lord Selbonrne declared that the referendum had come to stay. Australia’s remarkable experience had proved it a practical instrument of Democratic Government, unimpairing in its main features, representative Government. Lord * Lansdowne’s amendment was carried, the voting being— For the amendment 253 Against 4(3 Majority 207 Lord Weardale and the Bishop of Ripon abstained from voting. The Archbishops were absent. The Bishop of Birmingham voted with the minority.