BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9604, 25 September 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE BATTLE OF THE BUDGET. MR BALFOUR'S SPEECH. By United PressAssooiation-—Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received September 24. 8.5 a.m. LONDON, September 23. Mr Balfour, in concluding his address at the Bingley Hall,- said he did not believe the verdict would be long delayed, but the conflict would not be decided at Westminster. "The only tribunal." the speaker declared, "which can say whether we shall go down hill under Socialism or uphill under Tariff Reform, is the people." The Right Hon. Henry Chaplin (an ex-Cabinet Minister) moved, and Sir George Doughty (a convert to the Unionist Party) seconded, a resolution condemning the Budget and favouring fiscal reform. The resolution was carried with enthusiasm.

PRESS COMMENT. Received September 24, 8.20 a.m. LONDON, September 23. The "Standard," commenting on the Bingley Hall meeting, says Mr Balfour freely and frankly adopted Mr Chamberlain's full policy. The "Morning .Post" declares that the speech will have the effect of committing the Unionist Party to tariff reform in a more decisive way than ever before. The "Daily News" says that Mr Chamberlain's voice id heard once more in the determined call to the Lords to reject the Budget. "We welcome his clear challenge." says the "News." The "Daily Mail" considers that the speech is unquestionably the finest, most determined, keenest, and most incisive that Mr Balfour has yet delivered. "The Times," referring to the speech, says:—"Mr Balfour's remark that neither the Lordb nor the Commons can take right or title to decide an issue so important deserves attention. This throws a new light upon what the Lords ought to do. By passing the Budget, with its mass of non-Budgetary matter, the Lords would be only joining the Commons in deciding the nation's future over the nation's head." The "Westminster Gazette" and the "Star" emphasise Mr Balfour's silence in regard to taxes on food. They also declare that his speech is lacking in details of an alternative policy. Received September 24, 10,30 p.m. LONDON, September 24. The Hon. H. Gladstone, Home, Secretary, speaking at Cinderford, said: —"I offer no objection to the Lords rejecting the Budget. If the J challenge is given, -we will take ! t up at once, and go tu the country for the Budget, Freetrade, and a change in the constitution of the House of Lords.