BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 266, 17 December 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

HOME RULE QUESTION. ■■ IRISH PARLIAMENTARY PARIY. ■ FAVOR TOE PREMIER'S PROMISE By Cable.—Press AssocUtion.-Oopyw«ai Received December 10, 10.8 p.m. ■ London, December' 16.- • A netting of Oft members of the lriib Parliamentary party at Dublin unanimously confirmed the resolution of tin directory of the United Irish League to adviee the British branches of the League to use the Irish vote in support of the Liberal and Labor parties. The Irish Party's official newspaper defends the resolution, which, according to the Times'' Dublin correspondent, baa been received in other quarters with significant silence or with open «oadamnation. The Sinn Fein organisation fiercely attacks the decision.

BACK TO THE GLADSTONE LEVEL ENDING THE LORDS AND OBTAINING HOME RULE. MR. MDMOND"B~DEOLARATION. Received December 16, 11.35 p.m. London, December 16. Air. Redmond, speaking at Dublin, said that Mr. Asquith's declaration brought the Home Rule question back to the Ghulstonian. level. It was the best chnnee Ireland ever had of tearing up and trampling on the infamous Act of Union, which nad made Ireland impoverished, depopulated and unhappy. If the Government was returned by a substantial majority the Lords would speedily go and Home Rule would come. In that event, he could assure British people in the name of Ireland that Home Rule would be received and worked in the same spirit' of concession and freedom as it had' been received and worked 1 in the Transvaal.

A CHANGE OF OPINION. London, December 16. Newspapers quote Mr. Redmond's article in the Nineteenth Century of November, 1801,' which derides the policy that Mr. Redmond now accepts. THE BUDGET AND A TAXES ACT. THE DIFFERENCE DEFINED. London, December 15. Lord Lindley, in a letter to" the Times, explains the difference between the House of Commons framing a Budget and imposing a Taxes Act, Imposing a tax, he says', requires the assent of the House of Lords and the King. The necessity of all these three was a safeguard against the tyranny of the one or the two. Power to reject the Finance Bill is conferred by statute. In the present case the House of Lords exercised an undoubted right, because it believed the Finance Bill was' new and 'had features contrary to the nation's interest. If the House of Lords had passed the Bill it would have lost for ever the right of rejecting future Fin* ance Bills, however injurious such Bills might be.

DESTROYING THE GOVERNMENT.

Received December 10, 11.3.3 p.m.

London, ecember 10.

Sir Edward Grey (Secretary for Foreign Affairs), speaking at Berwick, said the Lords' action was a deliberate attempt to destroy the Government and the House of Commons. He criticised Mr. "Balfour as disinclined to enter into details of tariff reform. _____ -i GENERAL NOTES. London, December IS. The Unionists at Saffron-Waldcn summon the Hon. J. A. Pease, Chief Liberal Whip, to substantiate or withdraw hi* I allegations regarding the intimidation of voters.

(The Hon. J. A. Pease, addressing bin constituents at Saffron-Walden, said threat* had been made in the constituency, and in some cases, he bad been informed, possibly notice would be given to certain tenant farmers and laborers I that if they voted for him they would be ejected from their holdings and employment. Any agent bringing pitch pressure to bear was liable to penalties under the Corrupt Practices Act.) Mr. Lloyd-George, speaking at Carnarvon, stated that a small tailor's shop, next door to Cardiff Castle, was assessed at .£047 annually, while property belonging to the Marquis of Bute was assessed at £1)24. The tailor's solicitors proved that his assessment was only '£4o, and asked Mr. Lloyd-George to apologise. Mr. Lloyd-George replied that the premises he meant were not strictly next door. He mentions a name which is one of the largest clothing emporiums in Wales', and admits that the Marquis of Bute contributes £33,000 annually at Cardiff in rates.'

The Nonconformist Unionist Association, in circularising its branches, urged nonconformists to sign its petition against any interference with the legislative union between Great Britain tmd Ireland.

The council of the Northumberland miners, by 7 votes to 30, agreed, subject to confirmation by the lodges, not to oppose Messrs. Burt and ienwick, the miners' M.P.'s, running bb independent candidates.

The Westminster Gazette has apolcv gised for the statement that Lord tansdowne received a deputation from tlm licensing trade prior to the unionists. Upwards of half (toe electorate of Oxford University has promised to support Sir W. R. Anson and Lord Hugh Cecil.