BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9614, 7 October 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE BATTLE OF THE BUDGET. PROSPECT OF A GENERAL ! ELECTION. MINISTERIAL UTTERANCE. United Press dissociation—By Electric Telegraph _ Copyright. Received October 6, 8.5 a.m. v i LONDON, October 5. Viscount Morley, Secretary of State for India, speaking at Manchester, made the first Ministerial reference to the prospect of a general election, saying it might soon bs upon us. AN UNEXPECTED COMMAND. MR ASQUITH SUMMONED TO BALMORAL. Received October 6, 10.15 p.m. LONDON, October

His Majesty King Edward has Asquith to Balmoral. There are many speculations in the iobby of the House of Commons as to the unaxpected command. Directly Rafter Lords Rosbery, Cawdor and James of Hereford, visited the King. Lord Cawdor ia credited with favouring the Lords rejecting the Budget, while the Lansdowne is believed to disapproved of its rejection. | King arranged to return to London on Monday. ! The House of Commons continued the 'debate"! orT*~thd "liquor licenses i 11 » schedule. Many members emphasised the hard case of the London publicans. The Irish members continue to vote with the Opposition, reducing , the Government majority to 49. Finally, Mr Asquith agreed to make the minimum duty in Ireland five pounds, in areas with a population below ten thousand, seven pounds and ten shillings in more populous areas. The Nationalists expressed satisfaction at this. The Government afterwards refused to extend the same privileges tc London.