BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 272, 23 December 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS

A VISCOUNT'S ADVICE. VOTE AGAINST THE GOVERNMEN 1". By Cable—Press Association—Gopyrig it uondon, December 21. Viscount St. Aldwyn, in a letter in reply to a correspondent, said be had bei'>i iilent because nothing be could have Mid would have prevented the rcjtv- , tioii of the Budget, and because lie had i not cared to argue against his own side. The wisest Conservative leaders in the past had always held that the only ground on which the Lords could properly reject a Finance Bill was by "tacking." Continuing, he said: ''l sec nothing in the actual proposals of the liill so foreign to the finance of the .year as to justify its rejection 011 the ground of 'tucking,' nor can the proposal*—whatever their advocates have said—be I properly described as socialistic or reI volutionary. The imposition of fmiill duties on imported articles which arc largely consumed would have lien financially sounder and less injurious to the working classes than some of I li" excessive direct taxation included in the Budget." Viscount St. Aldwyn concluded his letter by savings "It would lie wrong to infer from my silence that 1 was on the Government's side. The Government now proposes to make the Lords impotent except for twelve months, then Home Rule, the disendowment of churches, universal suffrage, and every other Radical nostrum would be passed into law bv a Government majority in a gaggea House of Commons. This would mean disposition under the mask of popular government; therefore I advise the electors to vote against the Government." REFORM OP THE LORDS. LORD ROSEBERY ASKS FOR A Dis- - FINITE DECLARATION'.

London, December 21. Lord Rosebery, in a letter, asks for a definite declaration from both partics regarding the reform of the House of Lords. The Government, he says, wishes ttie second chamber to be a pliant phantom. The country does not wish to give the Liberals oar!' 1 blanche to deal with the Constitution in any way they thinn fit. On the other hand, unless Mr. Balfour, I.piil.t of the Opposition, gives a pledge thoroughly and unmistakably, we may sec a Conservative fiovcrnment repent the fatal error of letting th* opportunity pass.

FREE-CHURCHMEN AN'D Till' BUDGET.

London. December 21. j ' Sir R. W. Perks, Liberal rncmli >r fur Ijiratli. in criticising the notion el the free-churchmen at Mr. T,'ovl(ieorgc'i mcptinjr at the Queen's [Tail, declared that their comments we-e marked liv the abstention of the W.v levans. These, he enid, would not tolerate polities in the pulpit; in ntlwiwords, the clerical dictation of Mr. Asquith's programme was Home Rule for Ireland, Socialism for the la'nir iParty, and nothing for the nonconformists. LABOR'S ARRANGEMENTS. London, December 21. Mr. Kei r Hardie, speaking nt Glasgow. s.nid the Lalinr Partv had everything in order for earrving on its financial work for nt least two years. PAYMENT OF LABOR MEMBKRS. EFFKCT OF A RECENT JUDGMENT. PAYMENT OF M.P.s URGED. Received Deeemher 22, 11.10 p.m. London, December 22. Mr. Richard Bell, general secretary of the railwaymen, says Justice Shaw's judgment affects the trade union representation for the better, because Labor Commoners will escape the tyranny they have been subjected to for four years, and it will also make the position of men like Messrs, Burt and Fenwiek easier.

Mr. Stedman, secretary of the Barge Builders' Union, states that if the trade unions have any manhood they will find the money by voluntary subscription. Mr. Cnrran, chairman of the general Ba y a of the societies will wOßngly subscribe a voluntary lew. Next Parliament will amend the Act of 1871 1 ,

Mr. ItamsJay Mac Donald, M.P., savs the judgment cannot stand. The Chronicje, in a leader, in view of Justice Shaw's judgment, deprecates any alteration in the law in order to reverse the lords' judgment. It suggests the payment of members instead. The Society of Railway Servants lias circularised members asking whether the rtim of M:418fl should bo refunded or transferred to the railwavmen's Parliamentary Association.