The Westminster Gazette of Monday, in its most " school-
masterish " tone, reproves the Spectator for its " inexcusable" carelessness in saying that a general election might take place between the passage of the Home Rule Bill for the third time in the House of Commons and its reception of the Royal Assent, without the loss of the Bill under the Parliament Act. (" Smith Minimus, if you are not more accurate in your work you may find yourself in very serious trouble I") Asa matter
of fact, we were quite prepared for, nay expected, the West- minster's comment. Theirs is no doubt the conventional and
ordinary interpretation of the Parliament Act. If, however, the Act itself is looked at, and recourse is not had to some vague recollection of its terms, it can be shown that our view is correct. Here are the actual words :—
" If any Public Bill (other than a Money Bill or a Bill con- taining any provision to extend the maximum duration of Parliament beyond five years) is passed by the House of Commons in three successive sessions (whether of the same Parliament or not) and having been sent up to the House of Lords at least one month before the end of the session, is rejected by the House of Lords in each of those sessions, that Bill shall, on its rejection for the third time by the House of Lords, unless the House of Commons direct to the contrary, be presented to his Majesty and become an Act of Parliament on the Royal Assent being signified thereto, notwithstanding that the House of Lords have not con- sented to the Bill."
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