BRITISH POLITICS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9680, 3 January 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

'.BATTLE OP THE BUDGET,

United Press Association—By fleet ie Telegraph Copyright, Received January 2, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, January 1. The Hon. D. Lloyd-George, speaking in the Queen's Hall, said that had the Budget become law great progress would have been made with land valuation, and would have provided revenue from landlords who had escaped a considerable portion of their fair taxation. The Budget was rejected because trade was improving so rapidly that the cry of unemployment had been useless. Lord Northcote, speaking at Branx3ome, said the tariff reform was unlike the Ten Commandments or a umlliplicatioi table, and is a business arrangement for securing the people's welfare. The Unionists offer not a leasehold under a corporation, but freeholds and employment instead of, insurance against unemployment.,. Lord Crewe, speaking at Wisbech, insisted that thfi elected chamber was entitled to settle all queestions of finance, but as a safeguard against "rasty legislation he favoured shorter Parliaments. The Budget had been rejected because the Lords disliked it, and beause it gave them the opportunity to gamble for tariff reform. The President of the Wesleyan conference warns pastors that their position cannot be used for party purposes, and reminds them of the standing orders' of the Conference forbidding the use of churches lor political purposes. Mr Sydney Buxton, PostmasterGeneral, sneaking at Poplar, said that Mr A. J. Balfour had been driven step by step to accept the nauseous food compulsorily given by tariff reformers. Though he ba'l resisted as much as possible, the ordeis of his doctors were too much for him. LONDON, December 31. Mr McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, speaking at Pontypool, said that lour members representing Monmouthshire in the House of Commons- had voted ior the Budget, while three Peers residing in the county had voted against it. Mr . McKenna asked: "Will the electorates tolerate the tying of the hands/if their representatives in this manner 7 They are entitledi to the last word on the subject of taxation." Mr Austen Chamberlain, in his address tu his constituents in East Worcestershire, strongly protests against what he describes as a Libera) attempt to establish a regime of absolutism. LONDON, December 31. Speaking at Haddington, Mr Bal four complained of the Govn'nmeiit's refusal to take steps to draw closer the elements and territories constituting the Empire and against its adoption of a policy which means plunging the country into an endless controversy about Home Rule, which, if carried, would be utterly subversive of Britain's position among the nations. Lord Tennyson, late Governor-Gen-eral of Aubtralia, speaking at Fieshwater, said that at every agricultural fair he had attended while in Australia there were dumped American agricultural implements which were cheaper than those sold in Amirica. This was ruining Australian , firms. 'lhe Commonwealth duty had, however, led to unemployed Australian artificers getting work again. Mr Balfour, in a letter, favours, under Tariff Reform, a free area in every port, for purposes of transhipment. This is the method that operates at Hamburg. Sir John Gorst, Liberal candidate, speaking at Preston, declared that the Lords sought to co-ordinate their powers with those of the Commons, both as regards and finance. The great issue of the poll would be whether the country is to be governed by the Commons or by the Lords. The Bishop of London, the Right Rev. Dr Ingram, in a diocesan letter, advises Churchmen to press candidates not to vote for Welsh Church disestablishment and injury to voluntary schools. Mr Chamberlain is at his home, "Highbury," Birmingham. He is maintaining his strength and is doing much work in connection with the elections. His daily correspondence has increased enormously.