Lord Cawdor, who followed, regarded the proposal as dangerous, and
on behalf of the official Opposition moved as an alternative the appointment of a Select Committee to con- sider and report on the entire question. Lord Crewe moved as an amendment to Lord Cawdor's Motion that the dis- cussion of reforming the Lords should be deferred till pro- vision had been made for an effective method of settling differences which might arise between the two Houses. The Bill would not alter the partisan character of the House, and the Government felt it would be useless for them to take part in the deliberations of the proposed Committee. The Govern- ment t proposals could not be laid before them before Whitsun- tide, but he hoped they would then be favourably received. Lord Tweedmouth gave similar tranquillising assurances as to the character of the Government proposals.
Previous page
