BUDGET AND ENTERPRISE

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 14, 17 January 1910, Page 5

BUDGET AND ENTERPRISE

ABOLITION OF THE VETO. LOXDOX, January 15. Mr. A. Lyttelton, ex-Colonial Secretary, in a speech at Cambridge, stated that in 1906 there were 208 private bills, authorising the construction of works, valued at between ..60,000,000 and £70,000.000. Last year there w-ere only 112 bills, and the value of the amount authorised showed a decrease of £12,000.000. The decrease he attributed to confidence in Britain being shaken in consequence of the Liberal policy. There was no more striking evidence of the loss the working classes had sustained. Lord Lansdowne, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, states with emphasis in reply to a correspondent, that old age pensions are safe. He adds: Even the Liberal Government never contended that it should be beyond the power of any future Government to modify the conditions of the pensions. Reconciliations have avoided Conservative splits at Canterbury, Lincoln, Rossendale, and East Marylebone. Two thousand unemployed were engaged as sandwichmen for the Manchester Conservative demonstration against Free Trade. The procession was two miles long. ■ Newspaper and other comments refer to the absence of a detailed explanation of the Government method of abolishing thq veto of the House of jLords, beyond

the statement of some speakers that the Lords must pass measures sent up by. the House of Commons within the lifetime of any Parliament. No indication has been given as to how it is suggested this shall be accomplished by legislative t action. 1