In the Lords on Tuesday, Lord Lansdowne, dealing with the
King's Speech, justified the action of the Opposition in rejecting the Education and Plural Voting Bills, and appealed to the Government to clear their minds as to what were the changes in the way of reforming the House they really wanted. Lord Newton's proposals were an open secret, and he welcomed a discussion of the subject, believing that the country apprehended far less danger from an unreformed Houseof Lords than from an uncontrolled House of Commons. After referring to the licensing proposals and University education in Ireland, Lord Lansdowne declared they were all in favour of improving the administration in Ireland, subject to the unimpaired maintenance of Imperial authority. Lord Ripon stated that the Colonial Conference would be able to discuss any question which might come before it, but professed scepticism as to the desire of some of the Colonies to discuss Free-trade in the Empire. With regard to the relations of the two Houses, Lord Lansdowne's speech and Lord Newton's proposals indicated that they were all agreed that some reform of the Rouse of Lords was necessary; but there was also the question how the differences between the two Houses were to be settled. The Address was than agreed to without further debate.
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