BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 812, 15 February 1910, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

London, February 12

The Daily News admits that the Government has decided against hurrying the Veto Bill. The paper admits that the Government’s chief anxiety is to save the current income tax, which necessitates legislation being passed early in March. There is a consensus of newspaper opinion that Mr Redmond’s attitude has surprised Ireland, but that the antagonism of the O’Brieuites to the Budget and the pressure of the whisky interest forced Mr Redmond’s hand. If the present Irish attitude is maintained it is thought the Ministerial position will be seriously threatened.

In a speech at Dublin, Mr John Redmond, Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, declared that sending the Budget to the House of Lords before dealing with the question of veto would give the whole case against the Lords away, would disgust every British Democrat, and would break unashamedly an explicit pledge on the faith of which Ireland had promised her support to Mr Asquith. The Pall Mall Gazette says the immediate business of the House of Commons is to pass the Budget, and regularise the recent collection of revenue. If Mr Asquith puts the veto first to satisfy the extremists it will be for the purpose of buying the Nationalist vote, and he will be powerless to pay for it. KING AND PREMIER. London. Feb 13. Mr Aspuith had an interview with the King at Brighton, where his Majesty is staying for a tew days. THE COMING SESSION. London, Feb. 13. Newspapers state that during the debate on the Addsess-in-Reply Mr Asquith will announce whether the Budget is to be sent to the House of Lords by single resolution, and will also outline the Veto proposal and the principal work of the session. It is expected that Mr Redmond will also take the opportunity to declare the Nationalist attitude upon the Budget. The Chronicle and other papers assure Mr Redmond that the Cabinet is absolutely unanimous upon the necessity of limiting the Lords Veto,