"THE WRECKERS.”

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 682, 6 December 1909, Page 7

"THE WRECKERS.”

1 LLOYD-GEORGE ON LORDS '•WE'VE GOT 'EH AT LAST. ,, _____ ; BILLS TO BE PASSED WITHIN SINGLE PARLIAMENT. HE TWITS BREWER AND JEW. (By Teloferaph-Pres? AsBool&tlon-Ooi>yrlebU (Rcc. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) London, , December i. Speaking beforo tho National Liberal Club, tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer, Mr. LloydGeorge, vehemently denounced tho Lords as Mad Mullahs and wreckers of popular.; hopes. Tho Houso of Lords had, he said, now perpotrated its last act of destructive fury, and had initiated one of the greatest and most promising struggles of modern times. Mr. Lloyd-Georgo reiterated tho formula of tho lato Prime Minister, Sir Hy. Canipbell-Ban-norman, that Liberal legislation must becomo law within tho life-time of a single Parliament. [Tho formula enunciated by tho late Sir Hcniy Campbell-Bannorman, and referred to by Mr. Lloyd-George, was expressed in tho following resolution:—"That, in order .to give effect to the will of tho people, as expressed by their elected represoutativre, it is necessary that the power of the other House to alter or reject Bills flassed by this House should ho so restricted by aw as to sccuro that, iwthin the limits of a single Parliament, tho final decision of,tho Com-1 mons shall prevail."] Lords Curzon and Milner Ridiculed. In describing Lord Curzon as hot very wise or tactful, Mr. Lloyd-Georgo remarked that Lord Curzon was less dangerous as ruler of the Houso of Lords than as ruler of India. For further particulars they could apply to Lord Kitchener; if they wanted more information, they could apply to Viscount Midloton. Then there was Lord Milner. One thing common between Lord Milner and Lord Curzon was that both were very clover men, and ,both had overy gift except common senso. Lord Cromer (formerly Minister Plenipotentiary in Egypt) had found his territory devastated by misgovcrnracnt and had left it abounding in smiling prosperity. Lord iMilner (formerly High Commissioner for South Africa) had found smiling lands and ( had left them after years of mismanagement a scorched and blackened desert. Lord Milner's was tho peculiar gonins of running institutions and countries into destructive courses. Mr. Lloyd-George next attacked Lord Rothschild and Lord Revelstoke (anti-Budget peers) and twitted them on their ancestry! Both were running down British investments and all tilings in the country that offered hospitality to their forefathers. Liquor's Hold on the Lot-dt. After arguing that tho Houso of Lords was OTDr-borne by tho liquor trade, Mr. LloydGeorgo exclaimed: "We've got 'em at last. I do not mean to let 'em go Until all accounts aro settled." Tho Earl ,of Carrington, President of the Board of Agriculture who was in tho chair, characterised tho speech , as marvellous and said it was destined to havo a far-reachinß effect.

, .[Viscount Midleton, as Mr. St. John BrodAm' 7 a i 3 on ? cor T° 1 tary of State for 1803 to 1905. It was in the latter year that Lord Curzon resigned the post of Viceroy of India because he could not carry his point with the India Office against Lord Kitchener, on the subject of the Indian Army reorganisation. .... Lord KevoMoke is John Baring, a 6 cion of tho great financial family of Baring, which is also represented in the House of Lords by Lords Ciomer, Ashburton, and Northbrook. Ho is a director" b'f 'the Bank of England. Lord Rothschild, the second Baron, is tho son of that Lionel Nathan do RothErhild, who, in his earlier days, was kept out of tho House of Commons for eleven years because he would not swear "on the truo faith of a Christian.". , . , Tho strength of the liquor trado in tho House of Lords has been tho subject of much badinage. Irreverent Radicals used to term tho late Lord Burton the head of tho "Beerage."}

PROROGATION SPEECH.

INDIAN REFORMS AND SOUTH AFRICA UNION. BILLS PASSED INTO LAW. ' I (Reo. December B, 5.5 p.m.) i , London, December i. \ , Tho King's Spoech, in proroguing Parliament,: mentioned, that the Government were enjoying friendly; relations with foroign Powers. Satisfactory progress had been made with Turkoy*6 constitutional regiino. Pleasure was expressed at the renewal of iho arbitration conventions with Germany, Sweden, Norway, Sivitzorlandj and Portugal. Arbitration conventions with other States are in progress of ronowaU Tho Speech spoke hopefully of tho new Council of India, the constitution of which has been widened to admit native representation. The' conviction is expressed that tho South Africa Union will add to tho strength of that country. Tho Imperial Defence Conference had been of great mutual advantage to Ihd Motherland, and to the oversea Dominions. As an outcome of the Conference's deliberations, it might confidently, bo expected that the capability of the Dominions would bo preserved, and their unity promoted. Tho Speech concluded by recounting all tho important legislation passed> during tho yeai, mentioning the Irish Land Purchase Bill, tho Housing and Town Planning Bill, and the establishment of labour exchanges.

FAILURE OP FINANCIAL PROVISION. London, December 3. Tho King's Speech proroguing Parliament thanks the Commons for providing for national expenditure, and regrets that such provision has proved unavailing.

DATE OF DISSOLUTION. EABLIEST POLLING ON JANUARY 13. (Kee. December 5, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 4. The official date of dissolution is January 8. The writs will be issued on the same day, and the earliest polling in boroughs will be on January 13, LIBERALS AND LABOUR. LATTER INCLINED TO PLAY TOR ITS OWN HAND. TRIANGULAR VOTE-SPLTTTING FIGHTS. London, December 3.' The Labour party seem ill-disposed to agree to the proposals of Hr. J. A. Pease (Chief Liberal Whip) for the avoidance of triangular contests, on the basis of the Liberal and Labour parties mutually respecting each other's scats. Tho Independent Labour Perty has issued a manifesto in favour, of ending rather than mending the lEouse of Lords. It strenuously opposos any attempt to strengthen the House by reforming it or increasing its power of obstruction in the banner proposed by the late Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-

man. Tho mnnifesto adds:—"Tho party aro bringing candidates into tho field with the sole object of strengthening tho Labour and Social' ist force , ; in the Hoiiso of Commons."

on Thursday there was a very actwo markot Most of tho "bears" who anticipated financial chaos sought to cover their liabilities. ,

IN DEFENCE OF THE PEERS. LEGALLY TESTING TEE POPULAR WILL. (Eec. December C, LIE ajn.) London, Docemhor S. Lord Lansdowne, speaking at a Unionist demonstration of 8000 at Plymouth, maintained that the Lords were fighting {or the liberties of the people, and for ono of the pooplo's most valued privileges—namely, the right to be consulted before great issues become law. Ho awaited the result of tho appeal to tho peojilo' with, confidence. Tho issues wore: Tariff Reform as against an oxtinct Budget, ono House, or two, and Socialism or not The- "Law 'Journal," analysing tho voting of sixteen peers who have • had judicial ox- e perience, declares that tho weight of legal opinion in the House of Lords is aga'nst the : view that the Peers have violated the Con- , stitution. I "AN IRREDEEMABLE PAST." CONCLUSION OF COMMONS DEBATE, London, December 3. ' In the Houso of Commons, in tho course oi his speech on Mr. Aequith'e anti-Lords mo- - tion, Mr. Balfour 1 said: "Mr. has failed to give a single argumont to indicate that too action of the Lords was what his resolution affirms it to be Their course accorded with Iho wholo tlieorj of a.second chamber." Mr. Balfour declared that ho had no doubt whatever of tho country's decision. 'The ' Lords had done their duty, and done it fesr- ' lcssly. ■ , ' Tho remarks of tho Leader of tho Opposition vroro followed by groat .cheering. Mr. Arthur Henderson, speaking on behalf ot tho Labour party, declared it was altogether, ■ too lato for the House of Lords to profess anxiety regarding the interests' of tho people. Its past was irredeemable. COLONIES AS POLITICAL COUNTERS. LORD CREATE, CENSURED. ' ' * London, December 3. The newspapor , "Dispatch)" published at ' East London, Cape Colony, depreeatos the referohce to. the Colonies made by Lord Crew* (Secretary for tho Colonies)'during the Budget , debate in the Houso of ( iJord6. Such roforonco th 6 paper describes as a" misuse of tho overseas partners in the Empire. ' ' [In his speech, as cabled, Lord Crowe asked what would the Colonies think of their' Lordships' impending action, ,I'ho Australians' would wonder what would hoppon if the Com- , inonwealth finances woro handed. over to the squatters of the older State. -Ho added; "Torn , , Lordships are making tho most tragic blundor. If the country condones or approves your decision, onr fellow-anbjeots abroad will nsk if i the citizone of tho Motherland aro altogether fitted to oxercise responsible' government."] SOUTH AFRICAN AND CANADIAN PRESS. London, December S. Including the Rtmd "Mail," South African newspapers gcnorolly express a hope that the House of Lords will bo reformed on tho,basis of strengthening iU representative elements. Tho Tranwaal "Leader," Pretoria "ttovra," • Cape "Times," 'and Natal "Mercury" warmly ' support the action of the Lords with regard to the Budget , 1 Canadian newspapers' comments on tho rito- ■ ation oto of a varied charactor. ' >

POWERS OF COLONIAL SECOND •' " CHAMBERS. ' . .

(R«c. December 5, 5.5 pjn.) ,y < , t ,i,"n'',V r i ' Lonllon i December i. * ' j Mr. AHred Lyttelton, who was Secretary for i tho Colonies in the last Unionist Government, writes' , to "The Tinww" with roforonoe to th« romarks of Earl Crewo, tho present Secretary for tlio Colonies,' on tho subject of the colonial • attitude towards the monoy power of Second ,' Chambers, Mr. Lyttelton-sayesi ' "Lord Crowe, the orator, assnres tho' Peon that they will bo the laughing-stock of'their' , oompatiiots abroad if they reject a money Bill. Lord Crowe, the statesman, deliberately invests Sonatee overseas with the very power whose exeroiae ho ridiculee at Homo.,

VICTORIAN UPPER HOUSE'S ACHOft IN '1877. (Roe. December 0, US wn.) London t December 6. Sir Gilbert Parker (Unionist M.P. for Gravesend), epeaking at Hackney, related how the Legislative Council in Victoria had dealt with "tacking" in 1865 and 1877, and eaid that . t Lord Crewe and Mr. Ure (Lord Advocate for Scotland) would do well to leave tho oversea ' dominions out of their appeals for partisan sympathy. , , FINANCIAL INTERREGNUM. l t ARRANGEMENTS' FOR COLLECTING > TAXES. , ' London, December 3. > The Government has arranged to recolvo the now Customs and excise duties, subject to'any refunding according to next Parliament's decisi6n. This will'involve little, if any, losa of ' ' revenue. Tho Tea Buyers' Association, including all the largo firms, has agiecd to puy duty during the interregnum on the understanding, that | it shall be returned if it is not roimposcd ot not made retrospective. PEERS TO GO OUT ELECTIONEERING. PRIOR TO ISSUE 01? WRITS. (Reo. December 5, 5.5 p.m) t London, December i. At- Lord Curzon's initiative many Peers ai« , arranging to participate in tho election camjjijign prior to tho issue of tho writs.) [In their oleoHoncering effoits, what tho Pocre ~ , i havo to do is to stwr clear of the following resolution of the Houeo of Commons!—" That it is a high infringement of the liberties and pri. YilegK. of Ihe Commons of the United Kingdom ' for any lord of Parliament, or other peer or prelate, not being a peer of Irolnad at tho time elected, aud not hating declined to serve for any county, city, or borough of Great Britain, to concern himself in. the election of members to servo for the Commons in Parliament, ex- • cept only any peer of Ireland at such olectiora in Groat Britain respectively whoro such peer , ' I shall appear as a candidate, or by himself or 1 by others bo proposed to be elcoled; or for any Lord Lieutenant or Governor of any-conntj i to avail himself of any authority dwivod from i I his commission to'influence the election of any member to servo for the Commons in Parliament,"] LORDS ROSEBERT AND CURZON. ' London, December 3. i Thsre has been eharp correspondence botweon Lord Rosebery and Lord Cunon. The lnttei quotes extracts from Lord Roscbory's Glasgow speech. / Many newspapers fully beliovtd that Lord Rosebery \sould move tho rejection of the Budgot himself. A grcal majority of the Peers expected he would advise its lcjcction, instead of recommending that it be passed, leaving thr ' disease to work its own remedy.;

[Lord Rosobcry (said a cablegram published on Friday) has , written a letter in reply to the remark by Lord Cnreqn, that "Lord Hose bery*B Glasgow speech dolivered Uio Bndget a smashing blow; yet Lord Rosobcry's conclusions in his speech in the llouso of Lords) worn lame and impotent," Lord Koscbery, in , hip letter, declares that-lie still fears, as he *<lit* i whon speaking at Glasgow, that actions 'such.' as tho Lords lind now token way injuriotislj affect a valuable institution nnhanc* what popularity'the Budget muy possess.]