Functional socialism

FUNCTION 53

thrown in; but as they were invariably “sound on the goose’’, their presence supplied an intellectual screen to cover a mass of ignorance and prejudice. Did not a former archbishop, only thirty years ago, defend the importation of Chinese labour into South Africa as ‘‘a regrettable necessity”? The lawyers, too, have not been slow carefully to guard property rights in new legislation.

It is significant that attacks upon the House of Lords have almost invariably been based on political and not economic grounds. It has been interference with political measures that has caused political storms. Almost unconsciously great masses of voters have said to the Lords: “You stick to your job; leave politics alone’. In a blind and blundering way the House of Lords has been our economic chamber.

Its economic réle has, in recent years, largely been superseded by more powerful industrial and financial bodies—trusts, combines, professional, industrial, and commercial associations and the like. But the Lords are still on guard, to restrain, delay, modify or defeat dangerous measures. The growing impotence of the House of Lords has already alarmed its friends, who would strengthen its influence by a large accession of new blood. Lord Lymington, for example, who is not without considerable support. He would reduce the hereditary members to one hundred, selected by themselves. Then, in addition to the lawyers, the medical profession. Next the educational leaders. And so to business. Twenty financiers, including the Governor of the Bank of England, the