NEWS OF THE WEEK.
MR. GLADSTONE will probably move the second reading of the Franchise Bill on Monday, when Lord Randolph Churchill is to move :—" That, in the opinion of this House, any measure purporting to provide for the better repre- sentation of the people, must be accompanied by provisions for a proper arrangement of electoral areas," and will be supported in his motion by the Tory Party. The Prime Minister is expected to give a much fuller sketch of his intended Redistribution Bill than he gave last Session; but whether he will decline to introduce it till the Lords have passed the second reading of the -Franchise Bill is not yet known. Nor is the point very important. What Liberals want is a renewed assur- ance that if the Lords again make the passing of the Franchise Bill conditional on their approval of the Redistribution Bill, the Commons will regard that as a declaration of war, necessitating a reform of the Lords.
