BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9610, 2 October 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

ALLEGED UNSCRUPULOUS METHODS.

MR BALFOUR INDIGNANT.

United Press :>ssociati»n—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

Received October 1, 8.5 a m. LONDON, September 30.

Mr B. Stanier, Conservative member for Newport, Salop, called the attention of the Leader of the Opposition to reports that Radical speakers declaie that if Tariff Reform were established there would be no more old-age pensions; also to reports that when the general election comes the Radicals would spread this statement outside the post offices where pensions were paid. In a letter in reply, Mr Balfour denounces these unscrupulous and degraded rnethods,""recalling the campaign of mendacity in connection with Chinese labour in South Africa. Mr Balfour says he feels confident that the Radical leaders will discour- , age the system of lying, which must do harm 10 the cause of free institutions.

LAND PURCHASE BILL.

CONGESTED DISTRICTSjBOARD.

PEERS' OPPOSITION

Received October 1, 8.15' a.m. LONDON, September 30. "The Times'' states that the Unionist Peers will not consent to the new Congested Districts Board proposed under the Land Purchase Bill, and are inclined to retain the exising board, with the addition of a permanent member and the Estate Commissioner ex officio. It is felt, says "The Times," that the board should merely be an executive authority for re-settling estates in cases of migration, enlargement, consolidation, or exchange of holdings, while all the land purchase operations should be in the hands of the Estates Commission.

THE LORDS AND THE COMMONS. Received October!, 11.45 p.m. LONDON, October 1. The "Daily News" declares that omens tell strongly in thejdirection of the Peers passing the Budget The influence of the uourt in the Lower and Upper House has often been used to avert a constitutional crisis, and that influence to day is as powerful as ever. The "Daily Graphic" understands that the Marquis of Lansdowne will shortly visit his Majesty Ki"T Edward. This evidence of the King's interest in the pending crisis is of the highest significance, especially after Lord Rosebery's five days' stay at Balmoral.

Received October 1, 11 p.m. LONDON, October 1

A petition is being prepared for signature by bankers and merchants in the city urging the Lords to lake such action as would give the people an opportunity to express their views on the Budget bsfore passing it into law.