Parliament was opened by the King in State on Monday.
The Speech from the Throne, which was exceptionally brief, dealt first with the coming inauguration of the Union of
South Africa at the end of May, and with the recently established enlarged Legislative Councils of India. Turning to finance, the Speech said that the Estimates had been framed with the utmost desire for economy, but that "a substantial increase" in the cost of the Navy would be necessary. As the expenditure authorised by the last Parlia- ment was being duly incurred, and as the Budget had not passed, the Government had had recourse to temporary borrowing. The Speech concluded with these words on the Constitutional question :—
" Proposals will be laid before you, with all convenient speed, to define the relations between the Houses of Parliament, so as to secure the undivided authority of the House of Commons over Finance, and its predominance in Legislation. These Measures, in the opinion of My advisers, should provide that this House should be so constituted and empowered as to exercise impartially, in regard to proposed legislation, the functions of initiation, revision, and, subject to proper safeguards, of delay."
These words clearly mean that the Ministry intend not only to abolish the veto, and so emasculate the House, but also to reform and so improve it. We shall be surprised if the
country agrees to a proposal worthy of the Academy of Laputa. It reminds one of the receipt for Gosky patties in Lear's "Nonsense Book." "Dish up on a clean white cloth, and throw the whole out of window."
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