18 MARCH 1911, Page 3

In this context we may note that Mr. Cave has

given notice of an amendment to Clause 2 of the Veto Bill, under which a Poll of the People is to be made obligatory on Bills embodying important constitutional changes. By his proposal any Bill affecting the Crown, establishing a National Parliament or National Council with legislative powers in any part of the United Kingdom, affecting the Parliamentary franchise or the distribution of seats, or affecting the constitution and powers of either House, " shall not be presented to His Majesty in order to receive the Royal Assent under the provision of this Act unless and until it has been submitted to a poll of the electors." If this very reasonable amendment were accepted the result would be that, in regard to great Consti- tutional issues, we should not be exposed to legislation by the act of a Single Chamber. In our opinion Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Bill makes better provision, but Mr. Cave's object, of course, was not to establish an ideal system of Referendum, but to propose a practical amendment to the Bill before the House.