BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9666, 3 December 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE BATTLE OF THE BUDGET. WILL THE GOVERNMENT SPRING AN ELECTION? United Press Association—By Electric Tclntjruph t Copyright, Received December 2, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, December 1. During his speech in the House of Lords, Lord Curzon said:—"l am not sure we could count upon the people getting six or eight months' experience of the Budget. Perhaps the Government are afraid of six months, and will spring an election upon them." The Budget created machinery for the carrying out of new objects, and there was nothing harder than to disestablish a bureaucracy. If the Lords surrendered now, they would be committed to a Constitution wherein one Chamber could override the other without appeal to the people, He went further: The House had no right to yield the principle that any measure, however socialistic and subversive, must if passed be cramped within a Finance Bill. The reason no PTnance Bill had been rejected bince 18(j0 was that no Chancellor had submitted a Bill directly challenging the Lords' prerogatives. "Some of us," added Lord Curzon, "would warmly welcome a constitutional struggle." He hoped that out of the struggle would emerge a reformed House of Lords. It might not happen at this election, but he hoped at a subsequent date the country would give an unmistakable mandate that a second Chamber w a s an essential part of the Constitution, and should continue independent, fearless, and strong. ■ Lord Courtney of Penwith. warned the House that the issua of the election would be wider than they imagined. Their present action might possibly imperil their present powers. The adoption of a referendum into a question of finance introduced an unworkable scheme. Lord Goschen declared theru was nothing more injurious to the country's credit than uncertainty regarding the future. The Budget established extravagant machinery to deal with objects alien to the financial needs of the year. In voting for the amendment he occupied in no wise an inconsistent««»position for a Freetrader.

Lord Stanmore (formerly Sir Arthur Gordon), as a Freetrader, dissociated himself from Lord Cromer's abaten tion poli y.

WHAT THE OPPOSITION PROPOSE TO DO. Received December 2, 9.30 p m. LONDON, December 2. The Unionist leaders have re3olved not to propose an amendment but to give the direct vote against Mr Asquith's resolution. After Mr Asquith's speech, Mr Austen Chamberlain will express the Opposition views and Mr A. Henderson will voice the opinions of the Labour Party. The Nationalists will not participate in the division on the resolu'ion. It is generally agreed that irrespec tive c f party in a crisis of such gravity a prolonged discussion on the constitutional issue would be oat of place. Tne Marquis cf LansJowne 1 as re ceived telegrams from many Unionist Associations throughout the country promising support to the Lords.

BREACH OF ThE CONS ITUTION. USURPATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE COMMONS. RESOLUTION TO BE MOVED BY MR ASQUITH. Received December 2. 7.55 p.m. LONDON, December 2. At the Marquis of Lansdowne's instance the Lords resolved that while not insisting upon the amendments in the Development Bill, the Huuse of Lords does not accept the reasons offered by the House of Commons and does not consent on the grounds ot the said reasons to being drawn into precedent as the Bill involves questions of policy in which both houses aro concerned, and with which the Lirds heretofore have been accustomed to deal. In the House of Commons the Hon H, H. Asquitb (Prime Minister) was received with loud Ministerial cheers when he gave notice to imve to : day that the action of the House of Lords in refusing to pass into law the financial provisions made liy the Commons, for service during the year, was a breach of the Constitution, and usurpation of the rights of the Commons. (Renewed cheers).