THE BUDGET CONDEMNED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 198, 25 September 1909, Page 2

THE BUDGET CONDEMNED.

MR. BALFOUR'S SPEECH. By Cable.—Press Association.—Oopyrigut London, September 23. Mir. Balfour, concluding, said he did not believe the verdict could be long delayed, but the conflict would not be decided at Westminster. " The only tribunal which can say whether we shall go downhill under socialism or uphill under taritr reform is the people." Tho lion. Henry Chaplin, Mi'., moved, and Sir George Doughty, M.P., seconded, a motion condemning tbe Budget and favoring fiscal reform. It was carried with enthusiasm.

PRESS VIEWS. The Standard says Mr. Balfour freely mid frankly adopted Mr. Chamberlain's full policy. The Morning Post declares the speech to have the effect of committing the Unionist Party to tariff reform in a more decisive way than ever liefore. 'flic Daily News' says: "Mr. Chamberlain's voice was heard once more in it determined call to the Wds to reject the Budget. We welcome his clear challenge." The Daily Mail savs the speech was iin<|ilcslion>ihlv Hie lineal, most deter- ! iiiined, keenest, and most incisive that I .Mr. nnlfnnr has vet delivered. | The Times say's Mr. ISalfom's' remark I that "neither the Lords nor the Common* cm take the right or title to decide an issue so important" deserves attention. This throws a new light

upon what the fiords ought to do. Il.v passing the Budget with its mass l of non-budgetary matter, the Lords are only joining the Commons in deciding the nation's future over the nation's head. The Westminster Gazette and Star

emphasise llr. Balfour's silence in regard to food taxes, and also declare that his Speech is lacking in details and an alternative policy. WHAT MAY HAPPEX Ifl? THE LORDS REJECT THE BUDGET. Received September 24, 10.30 p.m. London, September 24. Mr. Herbert Gladstone (Home Secretary), speaking at Cindcrford, said: " I offer no objection to the Lords rejecting the Budget. If the challenge is given we will take it up, when we will at once go to the country for the Budget, free trade, and a change in the constitution of the House of Lords." TARIFF REFORM NOT THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE. Received September 24, 10.30 p.m. London, September 24. Lord Avebury, interviewed, declared that Mr. Balfour's speech is an excellent statement of the probable cll'eet of t)ie Budget. He did not, however, believe that tariff reform was the only alternative. Neither Mr. Asquith nor llr. Balfour laid stress upon the necessity for economy. When referring to the exclusion from protected countries, llr. Balfour forgot flint Germany was Britain's best customer, except India.