Lord Woodburry's Corner: News about the Former Empire

(Dr James Woodbury Rowe though loathe to declare his whereabouts is required to report whenever he is in a present or former British territory. Out of courtesy to him, this item is maintained. Contributors may offer any item of general offbeat interest or amusement.)

House of Lords

PM Tony Blair has put forward a plan for direct election of the upper house of Britain's Legislature. Critics of Mr Blair's proposal say that despite its appointive and hereditary makeup, the House of Lords is the most democratically constituted legislative body in the world. The proposal would leave in place the Nine Lord of Law who are the model for the Supreme Courts of most nations.

RCC Vancouver Island

The Prince regent of The RPPS in Canada plans to petition the Queen to recognise the Royal Crown Colony of Vancouver Island. The existing charter granted by Victoria Regina Regnant would allow Vancouver Island to become the Monte Carlo of North America.

Kingdom of Australia

Republicans may put away their guillotine. Australians voted for the Queen. By a 55-45% margin Australians rejected a proposal which would have made them a Presidential republic. Defeated Republican hopefuls asserted that the voters disfavored the particular mechanism proposed for selection of the president. Opponents asserted voters preferred the stability of the monarchial form.

No guts no soiled undies

President Clinton cut short his trip to Greece when Greek celebrants of the victory of democracy over a military junta refused to cancell their holiday for his security. Greek-Americans have claimed the trip was itself insulting; "he was gloating over his vanquishment of Orthodox Christians in Yugoslavia." President Clinton will visit American troops garrisoned in Kosovo to boost morale. "we've urged him to go long before," military commanders have said. "What do you expect? A hero?"