NEWS OF THE WEEK.
pARLIAMENT was dissolved on Monday, and the prepara- tions for the General Election on December 14th are in full swing It is one of life's little ironies that the late House of Commons, which began by reducing its own term from seven years to five, should have sat for nearly eight years. Since the Pensionary Parliament of the Restoration was dissolved in 1679, no other House of Commons had enjoyed such a long career ; and the cynic may observe that no other House for many years past, if not since Charles II.'s day, had contained so many placemen. The Coalition Government had a large majority in the late House, but they seek in the new House a large and a " reliable " majority. The Coalition Whips have undertaken to give certificates of " reliability " to Unionist or Liberal candidates in whom the Government have confidence, irrespective in many cases of the former Party com- plexion of constituencies or of the choice of the local Associations.
