BRITISH POLITICS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9683, 6 January 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

TKE FUTURE OE THE LORDS.

"ENDING, MENDING OR BENDING."

United Press Association—By Electric TelegrapU Copyright, Received January 5, § ; SO a:hi; LONDON, January 4. "The Times,*' discussing the future of the House of Lords, says that Mr Asquith has definitely disclaimed the policy of ending it, and the party has sufficiently indicated its objection to mending, which means altering and improving its compositon. There remains bending, which seems to be curtailing its powers while leaving its composition alone. This alternative, which jurists consider the worst, is chosen by the Government.

Lord Rayleigh, speaking at Witham, Essex, said he favoured making foreigners contribute towards the rational expenditure. There might be some t doubt regarding who should[pay export and import duties, but no dispute regarding who should receive them. He therefore strongly supported Tariff reform. Mr Winston Churchill, President of the Board of Trade, in a letter, declared that a ten per cent, on imported leather, which the Tariffices promised in order to win the Bermondsey seat, mean an additional burden upon the Leicester manufacturers of £200,000 a year, equivalent to about 3a a week on the wages of an ordinary operative. While industry would thus be greatly injured through a protective duty designed to raise the price of material, it stands to gain nothing from protection itself.

SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR.

.Received January 5, 10 p.m. LONDON, January 5. Mr A. J. Balfour, speaking at Hanley, stated that the crisis had revealed the fact that different ideals were growing up separating the community into two great sections widely divergent affecting not matters of detail but the whole future of its development. The issues were of such magnitude that he must reserve for future discussion the question of the reform of the second Chamber, Home Rule, parental freedom in selecting the form of religious teaching of children, and other questions. He proceeded to consider the question of defences, and rebutted the accusation that he was making party capital out of the inadequacy of the navy. The naval preparations were only questioned after the Ministerial statements made. He contended that, when the Unionists left office the strength of the battleships was overwhelming, and thare were ample naval stores. Mr Balfour, continuing, said that the Government since then had been living on those battleships and consuming those stores. Referring to Mr Mulliners revelations he remarked that not until the truth leaked out or was extracted'almost by the process of torture had the country began to realise the unprecedented position that its naval superiority on its own seas was threatened. In the near future everything depends on the navy. We exist- as an Umpire only on sufferance unless the navy be supreme. Mr Balfour added: "1 do not believe there is going to be any war between Britain and any great Power, but the only way you can secure peace is to be sure of victory if war occurs."' Mr Balfour proceeded to urge tariff reform as the way of raising revenue and giving security to our producers and increasing the productive capacity of the country. He looked also to its effects overseas.

Mr Mullirier, in a letter to the newspapers, gave details of his treatment by the Admiralty. He said that he had a series of interviews with Cabinet Ministers and members of the Defence Committee last February which resulted in the Government accepting his conclusions regarding the danger pf Germany's preparations. These conclusions were forwarded to the Admiralty on May 19tb. Mr Mulliner declares that the present naval situation is graver than ever.