25 FEBRUARY 1911, Page 3

The debate was continued on Wednesday;when Mr. F. E. Smith

pointed out that we were the only first-class country in the world where a Single Chamber could attempt to destroy the Second Chamber by a bare majority. " The Veto Bill gave uncontrolled power over every branch of the Legislature to that small oligarchy of the House of Commons known as the Cabinet." The Government could not claim to have a mandate for their Bill when two sections of their supporters were opposed to its preamble. Mr. Smith declared finally that " if this Bill became law in its present form it would be altered during the first week of the first Session of a Unionist Administration." Among the other speakers was Mr. SteeL Maitland, who said that if there was to be any lasting solution of the problem it must lie in a concurrent treatment of the two questions of the veto and reform. " Many of the Opposi- tion would give their support to the Government if they would come forward with a complete scheme of reform."