IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2765, 21 March 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE “STANDARD” ON UPPER HOUSE REFORM. United Pkess Association—Copyright LONDON, March 18. The “Standard,” summarising Lord Lansdowne’s second chamber policy, considers that the powers of veto would not be weakened. The number of peers would be reduced, but the whole peerage would select representatives of their own body. Others would: sit without election by virtue of their ipublic services. The Government of the day would also select a number of peers, with tenure of office long enough not to be influenced by general elections. The principle of life peerage would be extended to cover representation of all schools- of political thought and the great intersets of the country. MORE GOVERNMENT BORROWING (Received March 20, 5 p.m.) LONDON, March 19. The Government is issuing 21 millions of 3 per cent Exchequer bonds at 99|, with five years’ currency. THE GOVERNMENT’S UPPER HOUSE SCHEME. The “Times” states that the germ of the Government scheme, for the reform of the House, of Lord's is to be found in clause 63 of the Soutln Africa Act. THE PREMIER’S INTENTIONS—PASS BUDGET AND DESTROY HOUSE OF LORDS. Mr. Asquith, in a speech at Oxford, said that the election had created a position unforeseen by all parties. Only after hesitation he and his colleagues had concluded it their duty to remain in office. The- Budget must be pressed forward with promptitude and despatch in order to set right the unexampled financial confusion produced by the House of Lords. A rationally constituted second Chamber was desirable, not a Chamber overwhelming and undisguisedly partisan. The House of Lords’ reform debate showed a desire that that ancient structure should be disguised with- a coat of democratic whitewash. The Liberals demanded a second Chamber rebuilt on a democratic basis, thus preventing the chronic deadlock. Hie legislative power of the country had declared itself predomiuantly Liberal. The absolute veto must go. “THE TIMES” PERTINENT COMMENT. The “Times/’ commenting on Mr. Asquith’s speech, says:—‘Mr. Asquith and his friend's mean to preserve the second Chamber as a s ham and a screen. That is a new conception of English) constitutional government.” DEFIANT SPEECH BY WINSTON CHURCHILL. (Received March 21, 1.15 a.m.) Mr. Winston Churchill, at Manchester, said: “I am not frightened by the idea of a single Chamber. I do not attach the importance to the question which seme do. If a second Chamber is established in the future, it must be based on the votes of the great masses of the wage-earning population. The Government’s resolutions will to tabled on Tuesday. They are those of Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, strengthened by Mr. Asquith in one or two particulars.” Ho added that the debate on the resolutions commences on March 29th. The Budget had been misrepresented and misunderstood in Ireland. The Lords must be made to swallow both the veto and the Budget. He did not believe that Parliament would come to an untimely end through the Budget failing.