PAISLEY BY-ELECTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16037, 30 January 1920, Page 9

PAISLEY BY-ELECTION.

BY MR ASQUITH.

ELECTORAL REFORM DISCUSSED,

CHANGE IN IMPERIAL SYSTEM ADVOCATED. (Aus. A N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reuter.) Received January 30, 2 p.m. LONDON, January 29. Mr Asquith, in a speech at Paisley, rii.-cussing constitutional and electoral rt torn, advocated a second chamber which, to the extent of one-third would consist of nominated distinguished public servants in a non-political sphere, such n- the bench or public service, or Dominions. He Went on to say that there must be a change in onr Imperial system. Prior to the war a feature was the growing disposition to take into confidence representatives of the great Self-governing Dominions. That procedure had been developed. We must have a very loose and elastic system, not bound by red tape or any permanent convention under which in all vital questions of Imperial policy affectiig the Empire aa a whole you will be alue to bring into Consultation with the Imperial Cabinet in London the Dominions as free parties with us in that gigantic, institution which has grown up almost r bv a series of miracles, viz., the British Empire. He did not favour a scheme of Imperial Parliament, in which the Dominions would be directly represented, but would promote an increase of intercommunication between ourselves at home and the colonies. The only way to keep the Empire intact was Jo combine Imperial unity with complete local antonomv.