A SIMMERING CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 324, 25 February 1910, Page 5

A SIMMERING CRISIS.

THE BRITISH POLITICAL SITUATION AX ELECTIVE SECOND CHAMBER. CHAMBER. By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright London, February 23. Th" Lor' ? ivor of Dublin, the High Sheriff, and the Dublin Central Council of the United Irish League commend -Mr. Redmond's courageous action and offer to supply funds if another general election takes' place. Forty menu.ei's have resolved to urge Mr. As.jiiith to take energetic action with regard to Hie veto, but not to blend the veto with the reform of the House of Lords. The Estimates include £20,000 in aid of Captain Scott's expedition, and £57,000 for expenditure in Somaliland owing to the Mullah's hostility. The Times states that it is generally recognised that the political crisis' will now simmer for some weeks, while the financial business is proceeded with. T'ie Nationalists and Labor members hope the Government will modify its plans to the extent of introducing the Veto Bill within the next two or .three weeks, but this is impossible because the Government is not agreed upon the proposals. The Radicals, after Tuesday's debate, are greatly depressed, feeling that the Government has lost credit and can hardly recover It. Mr. Austen Chamberlain resumed the debate ©n (the Address-in-Ee-ply, and moved his amendment relating to fiscal reform. !A CLOSE DIVISION EXACTED. ANOTHER IMPORTANT AMENDW MENT. •' deceived Februai'y M, 0.35 p.m. London. February 24. Colonel Steely, speaking at Ilkeston (Derbyshire) said the policies of abolishing the hereditary principle and limiting the Lords' veto are inter-dependent. There ougiit to be fewer members of the Upper House, who all should be elected on'a basis as democratic as the Commons. These principles followed the most recent constitutions formed in the British Empire, and deadlcc'r' Tf r e thus avoided. It was notev that a large proportion of the A. :r<\ 'i Senate was composed of Labor nabers. CoJOnel Seelv's speech has arous- strong opposition in Radical circles. lobby reports' credit Sir Edward Grey witlf preparing a scheme for an elective second chamber.

Sir Charles Dilke publicly stated in the lobby that the elective elements ■would make the House of Lords infinitely worse, and that the Government would not have a single supporter in reforming the Lords. A Radical deputation met Mr. Asquith, who would not discuss the Government's plans. The Scottish liberals, at a further meeting, urged the Cabinet to adhere to Mr. Bannerman's" veto resolution. There Is a possibility of a close division on Mr. Austen Chamberlain's amendment to-day. The Nationalists ■will abstain from voting, and the O'Brienites support the Opposition.

The Government will move on Monday to take all the time of the House until Easter.

In the Commons Mr. H. Dalziel gave notice of an amendment that inasmuch as the electorates had given no mandate to reform the Lords the House declines to grant facilities for the discussion of a resolution having this object in view. An important debate is expected.

LABOR ENCHANGES' WORK. xteeeived February 24, 9.35 p.m. London, February 24. In the House of Commons, Mr. Buxton stated that the Labor exchanges had made a promising start, ami had already filled "several thousands of situations. Mr. Haldane announced that in the last two months {lie police had taken a census of horses in the United Kingdom, and when complete the \Yar Office would communicate it to the Territorials Associations'. THE " INVINCIBLE" ARMAMENT. Received February 24, 10.15 p.m. London, February 24. In the House of Commons, replying to lord Charles BCTesford, Mr. McKenna (First Lord of the Admiralty) stated that the Invincible fired her 12-inch guns on the 14th of March, MO!). but had not since fired them until yesterday. Numerous minor defects were discovered during the T909 trials in the turret and electricity plant, and alterations' were ordered; 'but further defects developed. The Invincible could have fired four of lier 12-inch guns effectively in the past year, and the other four at a considerably lower rate. EFFECT ON FINANCE. POOR PRICE FOR TREASURY BILLS. Received February 24, 10.15 p.m. London, February 24. The Treasury paid an average of 2% per cent, for four millions of Treasury bills sold yesterday, though the market rate for I\farcTi bills was 1% per cent. It is rumored that the Bank of England tendered at the last moment to prevent failure of the issue. The poor price has' caused three months bills to rise from 2 3-10 to 2% lier cent. The Telegraph protests against the Government's intention, as indicated by Earl Crewe, to take the whole of the balance of the. sinking fund, which is estimated at ten millions, in order to make up TTie expected deficiency in the Budget.

FISCAL REFORM AMENDMENT. " BRITAIN BANGED THE DOOR." Heee : ved February 24. 11.10 p.m. London, February 24. Mr. Austen Chamberlain declared that Britain liad ban.sed the door in the faces' of t"ie self-governing dominions when she refused fiscal negotiations witli tliem. Others bad been less squeamish. Tf Britain refused their ad-

vances, the dominions would be irresistibly drawn into treaties with otiier nations that they cannot make witk Britain.

Mr. Buxton <saiu "the Government appreciated the otters of preference, but the position was a difficult one. The colonies proposed a rebate in our favor, and at the same time asked that the food of oiif-people should be taxed. Mr. Ivor Churchill has been appointed Paymaster-General.