"WAR DECLARRED.'

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 979, 21 November 1910, Page 5

"WAR DECLARRED.'

STIRRING SPEECH BY MR. ASQUITH, THE PEOPLE'S WILL. ELECTIONS COMMENCE ON DEC. 3. HOUSE OF LORDS. " PARRICIDAL PICKAXES AT WORK-" By Telczrapii-Preßs AEsociatlon-Copyrighl (Rec. November 21, 0.35 a.m.) London, November 20. Speaking at a luncheon at tho National Liberal Club, most of the Ministers being present, Mr. Asquith, who received a tremendous ovation, admitted that it was unusual for a Government enjoying confidence in all questions.of general policy to find itself obliged to advise a dissolution. • New circumstances, however, demanded a new precedent. No House of Commons were more emphatically, representative, of tho will of the peoplo than the House of Commons elected in 1906, yet measures embodying that will were thwarted and defeated by the House of Lords, _ .. . ■ . : , The Climax. The , climax came when the Budget was rejected. The House of Commons elected in January with a majority of over a hundred were in favour of limiting the veto. After the truce they must now relinquish the method of compromise as a thing which had been tried and failed. The negotiations wero over, and war declared. Tho latest borough elections would, Mr. Asquith said, bo concluded by December 8, andtholatest counties by December 17. This would be much bettor than an election hovering over their- heads through Christmas. • v ; The Liberals denied proposing unchecked 'domination by a single Chamber. Yoke of a Single Chamber. Surely Lord Rosobery, was aware that they had been living when tne , Tories were in office under the yoke of a singleChamber tyranny! The Liberals proposed to oonfino the Second Chamber to those subordinate functions admittedly appropriate, to such a body, and to secure the full and even working of the'two Chambers, whichever party was in power. The representatives of the people were entitled to a controlling voice in both policy and legislation. The ancient and picturesque structure of the House of Lords was condemned by its own inmates as unsafo. Parricidal pickaxes were already at work, and constitutional jerry-builders were hurrying from everywhere -with new plans. ... ■■'.'■ IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. STATEMENT BY MR. ASQUITH. ' ME. BALFOUR'S REPLY. London,. November 19. The House of Commons .was crowded when Mr. Asquith, (ho Prime' Minister, moved that Government' business should take precedence for the remainder of tho session* Tlie business,, he said, would bo confined to idiscussion on the Incomo Tax, Tea, Duty, • and Sinking Fund. ' Supplementary Estimates providing for half; a million pounds for Old Age Pensions until the end of March iiext would, bo tabled. ■ Threo days would bo allotted for the Budget debate, and Parliament would bo prorogued on Saturday 'week. It was intended in : 1911, said' Mr. quith, to propose that members of the House of Commons bo paid. . An opportunity would' bo given next week for tho Lords to decide their position," but they must accept or reject the proposals.' Ho had hoped the Veto Conference ; would have reached a settlement of the deadlock, but it was now useless to attempt settlement by agreement. - - - ■ A definite statement regarding the Osborno judgment would bo made next week. . ' . ,;' . . ' . Mr. Balfour said the course. Mr. Asquith had taken was absolutely without precedent in tho history of the c'uetrr. "Ho has chosen a mouth in which ,th? register is old and the electorate. in the least satisfactory state, , except in Scotland." Mr. Balfour' added that- ho expected .the Government was afraid the House of Lords. would rnako proposals j agreeable to moderate men, and had therefore advised a dissolution. Ho declared that as a Houso of Commons man ho did not want an elected second chamber, which would.usurp tho position of the first chamber. ■ Mr. Asquith announced that the dissolution would take place on the 28th instant, ADVICE TO THE KING. MR. ASQUITH DECLINES TO MAKE ' ' 'A,STATEMENT. ' (Bee. November 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 19. Mr. Asquith, in his speech in ,the House of Commons, did not refer to guarantees, and at the'end of tho dobate.he was besieged by demands for a definition of contingent guarantees. In reply, he 6aid he declined, and would continue to decline to make a statement regarding his advice to the King, who must stand aloof from political conflicts. In tho House of Lords Lord Crorner and Lord Lansdowne questioned Lord Crewe on the same subject. Lord Crewo declined to say more than if the Government wae returned to power with a working majority, he.assumed tho House of Lords would give effect to the will of the people, London, November 19. In tho House of Commons Mr. Barnes (Labour) said it was impossible for the Labour party to be associated with the Government, until they had definite information regarding the Government's, intentions in connections with the Osborno judgment. Tho Parliament Bill ought to have been placed before the House of Lords months ago, instead of being discussed with closod doors. Tho Houso had not heard a word, regarding guarantees, and apparently tho election would be fought on the same issue as in January last, and with the samo register, except that a number of workmen would be disfranchised owing to removals. He protested ngainst tho Government for not dealing with tho question of poverty. These problems wero not solved by speeches. MR., REDMOND. "SILENT, BUT RADIANT." London, November 10. A feature of tho debate in the House of Commons was the fact that Mr. Ked.mond sat silent, but radian^

SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD-GEOHGE. THE SPIRIT OF NAGGING CONDEMNED.. London, November 19. Speaking at the City Temple, Mr. Lloyd-George said the struggle with the Lords was full of difficulty, and was not likely to be .concluded if entered upon in a spirit of ■ nagging. This would be futile. A spirit of comradeship was essential. Tho Labour members, were not the only people who were to bo allowed to talk'about poverty and distress. The Liberals had given the people pensions. PRESS OPINIONS. PAYMENT OP MEMBERS, •"A. SOP TO CATCH VOTES." - London, November 19. "Tho Times" Dublin correspondent states that payment of members will create many Independent candidates in Ireland, and shatter the Nationalists' discipline. Tho Conservative papers consider that tho cry against the Peers has less driving power than a year ago! The Government's critics complain that there is no justification for the dissolution. Tho House of Lords had never seen tho Bill which they wero accused of refusing to .adopt. Contrary to precedent, the Government was using the expiring register, when, by waiting a fow weeks, they could have had a better and more representative register. Already there is. a great outcry at the elections interfering with the anteChristmas trade, and the tyrannous action of the Government in not permitting the Lords to amend a Bill affecting their own fato is condemned. It is also stated that although the-Government declare the election to be a straight fight on the veto, payment of members has boon thrown in as a sop to catch voters. The Liberal papers praise Mr. Asquith for his courage and coolnces in managing the crisis. The "Morning Post" (Unionist), hitherto the severest critic of .Mr. Balfour, rejoices that his Nottingham epeech has at last given tho Unionist party a responsible lead. ■ Other Unionist papers are confident the speech will rally tho moderates, THE ELECTIONS. TO COMMENCE ON DECEMBER 3. ■ i London, November 19. The general elections will commence on December 3. tricky And slippery. government's wats criticised, '.'■■. London, November 19. Mr. Lyttelton, speaking at South London, said tho dissolution was being brought about m a tricky way by slippery , manoeuvres. NORTH-WEST MANCHESTER. London, November 19. Mr. .Bonar Law (Unionist) will contest tho North-West Manchester seat, which is at present held by Sir George Kemp (Liberal). '