25 JULY 1908, Page 2

On Monday the House of Lords read the Old-Age Pensions

Bill a second time, negativing Lord Wemyss's amendment by 123 votes to 16. We have pointed out elsewhere how the Lords are in effect abolishing themselves by agreeing to pass legislation which the vast majority of them admit is likely to destroy the financial stability of the country. Lord Wolver- hampton (Sir Henry Fowler) introduced the Bill in a moderate speech. He was followed by Lord Wemyss, who bears his age with a gallantry and vigour which show that some men at least are not too old at ninety. In no other relation of life, he declared, would men act as Ministers were doing in regard to that Bill. They would wait for information before they acted, and by his amendment he asked the Government to do so in this case.