BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 248, 25 November 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

THE LORDS AXD THE BUDGET. A VIGOROUS DEBATE. ' By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright | London, November 23. J Lord Hulsburg said Lord Lorebuins « suggestion amounted to this: that in l future there would be only one chamIber, which, having the powers of the purse, could bring within it money bills and all kinds of legislation. The Lords, he added, would not yield under threats of abolition. Lord Welhy warned the Peers of the dangers of rejecting the Budget. The expenditure, he said, was already largely in excess of that of lint year, aad the result would be n grave deficit. Lord Rcvelsto'ke, a member of the firm of Baring Brothers and Company, said that during three year-.' there had been a depreciation of 11(1 millions' in the capital value of SB7 leading British stocks, whieli were being thrown over in a wholesale fashion for foreign securities. Savings, lie said, were flowing

from the threntencd area to quarters where capital was more warmly welcomed.

The Bishop of Birmingham made an J earnest appeal to the Lords to pass the * Budget, which, lie said, would only < equalise the burdens' of the different < classes. Lord Ribblcsdale, speaking in favor of the Budget, admitted that he was much upset by Mr. Lloyd-George's speeches; but when a man indulged in a half pantaloon, half highwayman, style, it was too much to ask him to revert to classical methods. Lord Cromer moved the adjournment. THE ATTITUDE OF THE BISHOPS. Received November 24, 2. p.m. London, November 24. A majority of the Bishops decided not to participate in the division on the Budget. ELECTIONS ON THE ONE DAY. Received November 24*, 2.5 p.m. London, November 24. The Daily Chronicle is energetically promoting a crusade for holding the elections all on one day. The proposal ' meets increasing approval througljout [ the Liberal party.

INTEREST UNDIMINISHED. \ THE REAL ISSUE. [ THE FISCAL SYSTEM. I f THROWN lI.VToTmELTING POT. GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS VIGOR- 1 OUSLY DEFENDED. c FORMIDABLE RISKS. < l Received November 24 10.25 p.m. ' London, November 24. Interest was undiminished in the de-l bate in the House of Lards on the second reading of the Budget. The Cham-1 iber was crowded. Lord Cromer said the real issue was not whether collectively or individually the provisions of the Budget were bad, a but wbcther the Lords were justified in " 0 ' insisting that tlicv should lie rcf"Tcd t j to the nation. The principle involved iS in the supertax was sound enough, namely, that the burden should be phicj ed on the. shoulders of those most able n to bear it. " Nevertheless." lie cons tinucd, "the general financial policy of the Government does not inspire me ,e with confidence." The Chancellor of the -. Exchequer, he said, had drifted into a ie position which threw the whole fiscal system into the melting-pot. It was 'd UTTERLY UNSOUND FINANCE. ~j The Government incurred a heavy liability last year without the faintest ,d idea of 'how it would be met. The > r Liberals had tried to be freetraders and spendthrift. The result was the desperate expedient of land taxes." DISTURBANCE OF BUSINESS. Lord Pentland, controverting Lord Revclstoke, said the amount of public lB issues in connection with home undere. takings was not greatly varied during 3 t the last six years. During the Conservative term of office Consols fell from £ll3 to £B9. The present temporary disturbance of business was due to the fear of a general election; it was not duo to the Government. If the Budget were rejected, the Commons' exclusive control of expenditure would be destroyed and the executive paralysed. If allowed, it might occur every session "' about everything. The result would be GOVERNMENT BY PIUVILJ*,E.

The Liberals would not assume office in future unless they were secured from the harassing opposition to which in. I present Government was subjected. The Duke of Marlborough said the land taxes were intended to undermine the political position of the House, Lord Avebury said the Budget must drive out capital, check industry, and lower wages.

A VIGOROUS DEFENCE. Earl Beauchamp closely argued and put forth a vigorous' defence* ol the various proposals in the Budget, lie was unable to understand the charges oi tackhig connected with licensing. The only new proposal was that the bigger houses should pay more than thosmaii; The great majority of publichouses would merely pay slightly higher duties; Tiie only items which the Opposition really considered revolutionary and socialists were the land taxes. The alternative to a tax on urban land values was a tax on manufactured goods. Lord Lansdowno's alternative Budget was

b A TAX ON FOOD. If those were the erica wherewith the , 9 Conservatives were going to the country ■ the Liberals would have no cause to ■ complain. The House of Commons " would not surrender the power of the B . purse, nor come cap in hand and on bended knee ask the Lords to pass' a ' Budget which the Lords approved. ; Lord 'Lyttou disliked the land a:id s liquor clauses, but believed the Budget would tind more favor with dcy-tora than any proposals since the Government took office. Therefore he intended to abstain from voting. The Earl of Donoughmore spoke of the ; ill-effects of the Budget in Ireland where | it was universally unpopular. Lord Cromer said that a GREAT WAVE OF EXTRAVAGAXCK had been passing over the country, which had not been arrested until bitter experience proved its need. He had come to the conclusion, irrespective of frcclrude or tariff reform, that objectionable as the Budget was, it could not lie rejected without incurring more formidable risks than those involved in its adoption. It was of paramount imjmrtaujco to iniiiinbiin Britain's naval | strength and avoid a break in tho continuity of the naval policy to which both parties were pledged. In tho present distraction of the country it was a great temptation to both parties to seek to conciliate the mass of electors , by extravagant expenditure upon social reform. He feared * THE MAIN DUT? OE THE NAT t to maintain its naval strength would he v then forgotten. Therefore, ho wns mi- I able to follow Lord Lansdowne to the Lobby. Since voting for the Government might he construed into approval of the Bill, of which he cordially (lis- ' approved, he proposed to abstain frpm n voting.. Incidentally Lord Cromer advised the Unionist freetraders to vote for tariff reform candidates. A DISSOLUTION IMMINENT. *''

A REQUEST REFUSED. Received November 24, 11 p.m. 'London, November 24. The Conservative whips refused a Liberal proposal that writs for Portsmouth and Uxbridge be withhold'owing to the nearness) of a general election. The Conservatives intend to make a 'groat effort to win Portsmouth on the eve of the dissolution.