POWER OF VETO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 299, 14 December 1908, Page 2

POWER OF VETO.

HOUSE OF LORDS AS I) XHE UOVERXJIEXX. THE IXLUIXAXIXXI .JS.SI'E. "A POXKXX AXU FLEXIBLE IXSXRCAIEXXV' lieecivcd 13, l.lj p.m. Jjondou, December l:S. The Premier (.Mr. U. H. Asuuilh) addressing a meeting of members or tlie National Liberal flub, invited uir party to treat the veto oi the House of Lord's as the dominating issue. Xeverlheless he strenuously declined, except in a great constitutional emergency, to accept tile dictation of ail irresponsible assembly regarding; the. proper mopim 1 for Parliament to dissolve, lie declined Unit linaace was a potent mid flexible instriinienl and added: "The next Jluilget will stand al tlie very cejae of c;,e work, by whkli 1 was gin.ig to say, we shall stand or fall—by wli.cn we' will certainly be judged in the e.ilim.ilioi; of the present and posterity.'' r"iianv. lie proceeded, would possibly be found pariially solving in some direeli..;s what under existing constitutional < .1 'Miens were otherwise insoluble pivblems.

The 'times infers the reservation icgarding "a great eonslilnfioi, emergency," that Mr. Asijuith apprehends is bis threatened application of tiie :ui« of Una nee to social problems. Such an application would possible drive the Lords to resist the Budget Dili itself. That, says the Times, would niian me stoppage of supplies am! in iueviteb'e dissolution.