BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 814, 15 March 1910, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

London, March 12

Sir A. F. Ackland Hood, principal Opposition Whip, speaking at Wellington (Somerset), said he anticipated that Mr Asquith would resign within three months, for which a financial crisis was being prepared. The Manchester Guardian declares that the electors have commissioned the Government to suppress the House of Lords’ insurrection. By granting Supply for an extended period, the House of Commons would commit itself to approval of the Government’s doings throughout the session. Unionist newspapers are republishing Mr Winston Churchill’s speech which was cabled on February 23.

[ln the speech referred to in the above cablegram, Mr Winston Churchill deprecated using the Budget as a financial lever to force a constitutional change. The loss of the Budget would, he argued, be a terrible vindication of the House of Lords’ action. Ministers, he informed the House, had discussed the policy of refusing ta meet Parliament, and had concluded that this would be neither wise nor courageous. The House must wait patiently for the Government proposals. When they were introduced the Government would stake its whole existence upon carrying them into law.] Several newspapers anticipate that if the House of Lords rejects or postpones the veto resolutions of the House of Commons, Mr Asquith will ask the King for guarantees or appeal to the country.

In the House of Commons, Mr Haldane, Secretary of State for War, yielding to Opposition protests, promised the Army Bill before Eoster. He announced that he was taking sufficient supply for the Army lor several months. The Unionists thanked Mr Haldane for his conciliatory attitude. The Times declares that the Government contemplates bringing all its power to bear to on the business of the country till about the middle of May, and adds: —“ There will be no money to pay for the civil services and old-age pensions.” The Opposition attribute the postponement of all services until the middle of May to the Govern-, ment’s desire to avoid difficulties, should a change of Cabinet occur.

The Westminister Gazette justifies a six weeks’ vote on the ground that the Government is bound to retain for the House of Commons the power of controlling the situation. The Gazette adds : ” The Unionists had been hoping if Supply were voted until August they would have been enabled to postpone or precipitate a dissolution at pleasure.”

The Star says the meaning of the Government’s sharp action is to avoid a dissolution. The deadlock will be ended by refusal of supplies until the passage of the Veto Bill is assured.

The Globe says the electorate will make a very practical retort when it learns that pensions are to be wtihheld to enable Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd-George to retain office.

The Morning Leader referring to the debate in the House of Commons, says The Government has at last realised that revolution must be met by counterrevolution.”

The Daily Telegraph states that the Nationalists have received, assurances that the whisky duties will be abandoned in the next Budget.