The house of Industry : a new estate of the realm

IIo APPENDIX

Lords is because its economic functions have passed from it. (The hereditary principle plays no part in this. As long as sons inherit property and financial control in industry, it seems foolish to raise the issue in politics.)

Thus the landowners in the Lords no longer act for or represent the agricultural interests. Formerly they had all those interests solidly behind them—the farmers, the labourers and the marketing community.

The functions of the lawyers in the Lords have been rendered nugatory by an informed House of Commons and by Parliamentary draughtsmen of much greater skill and experience.

SUPERSEDED BY TRUSTS

Thirdly, the functions of the bishops have been transferred to the Church Assembly. That body is now legally constituted to speak for the Established Church. Of course, if Disestablishment comes, the bishops go.

Finally, the industrial Lords have been superseded by the trusts and combines, by innumerable professional and trade associations, and by the trade unions.

The conclusion is clear. The House of Lords must go, because as a functional body it has ceased to function.

Since Labour, like Nature, abhors a vacuum, it wants the building now occupied by the Lords—a palpable waste of time and space—for a House of Industry, elected non-politically by industrial groups, and to which shall be confided, with adequate powers, the direction and development of the economic life of the nation.

The incongruity of the present system is vividly illustrated by Lord Melchett, who had the brazen assurance to inform the Lords that he spoke for the miners in supporting the ‘‘ spread over.’’ With a properly constituted mining delegation in the House of Industry his speech would have been treated as a mere impertinence.

This brings us to the House of Commons. Why cannot the Commons do what it is suggested the proposed House of Industry should do? The answer is that no