THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 189, 14 September 1909, Page 2

THE BUDGET CAMPAIGN

LOUD ROSEUKRY'S SPEECH. By Cable.—Press Association.—Oopynght London, September 12. Lord Rosebery resigned the presidency of tne Überal League before bis (Masgo w speech. Mr. Asquith (Premier), Sir Edward Grey (Secretary of State for Foreign Allaire), and Mr. Haldanr (.Secretary lor Wur) were among those present. I The Radical provincial newspapers bitterly criticise the and couiplain about it.

The Sheffield Telegraph suggest* that Lord Rosebery should come down from Olympic heights and fight the Budget. The Birmingham Post says the statements will do much to cause the silent voter to think hard.

The Pall Mull Gazette states i>ity opinion is almost unanimous that Lord

Rosebery lias smashed the Budget, and that his speech in bound to have a tremendous effect in Scotland.

REPLY OF THE LIBERALS. "A SOFT-NOSED TORPEDO." Received September 13, 0.30 p.m. London, September 13. Sir. Idoyd-lGoorge (Chancellor of the Exchequer), interviewed, de&ribed Lord ltoiiibcry's speech as a "soft-nosed torpedo." Colonel Seely (Under-Secretary for the Colonies), speaking at Liverpool, said the speech was inconclusive, if the Lords used their power to destroy the Budget the people would use theirs to destroy the peers. Mr. F. D. Acland (Liberal member for Yorkshire North Riding), speaking at Pensinstone, said there was a number of peers who were known in London as the "wild men from tie woods," who regarded the land taxes as so narrow from their selfish standpoint as to be willing, in the event of Mr. Balfour and his people thinking it best to let the Finance Dill pads, to obey Lord Lao* . dosvno. If that happened, and, despite Hie Conservative party, those wild and ' uncontrollable peers—who emerged from their hiding-places only on great occasions—rejected the Budget, then, as surely as to-morrow's sun would rise, the Budget would smash them.

Dr. F. Mucnamara, in a speech at Grimsby, said Lord Rosebery and the Unionists were at one regarding the Budget, but while the Unionist! proposal tin alternative of tariff reform, Lord Rosebery had no practical alternative. Any tampering of the Budget by the Lords would lead to a declaration by the people against the peers. Mr. A. Ure, speaking at Coventry, stated that as an attack on the Budget Loril Rosebery's Speech was hopelessly ineffective, futile, harmless, and vain. It was the greatest help the Budget bad ye£ received. There were only two -ways of attacking the Budget. Tae critic who said the expenditure was wrong, or that this was not tJie right way to raise the money, should say " I will show you a better." Since Lord Rosebery did not assume either position, it was clear be was like Lord Rothschild and the great bankers. He knew th« Budget was the only just and fAir method to secure the necessary millions.

Mr. J. W. Gulland, speaking at Edinburgh, said the enthusiasm everywhere being shown for the Budget would be increased by the speech from the raven croaking on his withered brancn. il the Lords rejected the Budget they \vould raise an issue which might ooet them their coronets. A mandate must then be received to not only carry the Finance Bill but to curb tbc cruel and blighting power of the Lords. Mr. Waiter Long, speaking at Market Livington, said Lord Rowbcrv's indictment of the Budget was so powerful ud trenchant that it left nothing to be said by anybody in furtherance of the campaign against the Finance Bill. Business men in Newcastle are inviting Lord Rosebery to address them on the I Budget.