BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 815, 22 February 1910, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

London, Jan. 19. Mr Barnes’ statement is more noteworthy after Mr Hardie’s declaration that the Labour party would support the Government whatever course it would take in connection with the Budget and the veto.

The Morning Leader declares ; “ It is now clear that Mr Asquith cannot remain in office unless he tells the King plainly that the whole of his composite party require the veto as the immediate issue. The new crisis is due to a statement circulated in the lobbies that Mr Asquith intended to explain to the House of Commons on Monday that word ‘ safeguards.’ The Albert Hall speech referred solely to legislation.”

The Manchester Guardian says : “ Unless the difficulty is removed, the Government will be forced to choose between resignation and retaining office on the basis of Unionist support. This would not be less calamitous than direct defeat. The elections in the North of England were fought upon Mr Asquith’s Albert Hall declaration.”

It has been explained in Ministerial circles that Mr Asquith’s reference in his Albert Hall speech to the need of “safeguards” before retaining office (if he were reelected) pointed to provisions in the Veto Bill.

The Freeman’s Journal says there is every probability of a general election in six weeks or two months. The Chronicle claims that Ministers cannot constitutionally give the King the advice which Mr Barnes suggests. The Globe says Mr Asquith may surrender to the party of revolution. or appeal to the patriotism of the Unionists to extricate him.

It is reported that Messrs O’Brien and Healey will insist on dividing the House of Commons upon every item touching Ireland and increased taxation.

The Treasury is issuing four millions worth of bills payable in a month. Recent issues have been nine millions in one mouth, and five and a-half millions in two months. Mr Keir Hardie, M.P., interviewed at Canranock, said he had had an impression that the recent guarantee concerning the House of Lords had been obtained, inasmuch as Mr Asquith had previously declared that otherwise he would not assume office.

This impression had been strengthened when the Cabinet vacancies were filled. He learned on Thursday that the House of Commons was to be asked to pass the Budget first and trust to luck in dealing with the House of Lords. This, besides being bad policy, was a b.each of faith with the country on Mr Asquith’s part. Mr Hardie argued that a resolution embodying the principles of the Veto liill would suffice to make the House of Commons passing of the Budget dependent upon the Lords’ acceptance of the resolution.

The Chronicle says that the dominating feature of the situation is that nobody wants a dissolution.

If Mr Balfour defeats the Government he must introduce a Budget or immediately dissolve Parliament. If Mr Redmond forces the defeat of the Government and a general election, he may lose seats to the O’Brieuites, and if the Labourites join Mr Redmond, they will not improve their position in the country.

The Chronicle believes that every body will prove more reasonable next week than now appears likely. Mr Herbert Samuel, who is Postmaster-General in the New Cabinet, speaking at the Kighty Club dinner, said that the Government’s action regarding the House of Lords would be swift, courageous and decisive. The liighty Club is a Liberal organisation formed in ISBO to promote Liberal education and stimulate Liberal organisation. The members lecture on political subjects, and address Liberal Associations and meetings throughout the country. The Master of Klibank, Chief Liberal Whip, has issued the business for Monday, adding that an important division is possible before the debate on the Address-in-reply is reached.

This is unusual and is not explained.

There are indications that the early division relates to the resolution enabling the House to deal comprehensively with the Budget as the first business of the session-

The Times says that if Mr Keir Hardie’s notion that Supplies be refused until the King consents to compel the House of I.ords to commit suicide, is the idea of constitutional politics entertained by Socialist members of Parliament, the crisis has rendered a public service by bringing it to light.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce condemned the introduction of the Budget as imposing undue taxation on Ireland.

Sir \V. S. Robson, M.P., reelected for South Shields in the liberal interest, speaking at New Castle and replying to the criticism that the Government was in a cleft stick, asked : “ Which party is not in a cleft stick ?” Ke proceeded to discuss Mr Balfour’s difficulties if the Government resigned and Mr Balfour was summoned to take office, and contended that the Opposition party was in a much more embarrassing position than the Government. King Ivdward has signed the speech from the throne.