RIDING FOR A FALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 69, 22 March 1910, Page 5

RIDING FOR A FALL.

(Received 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 21. Mr. _eir Hardie, speaking at Merthyr, described Mr. Asquith's speech at Ox- '■ ford as another bellyful of the east wind, i He believed the Government was riding - for a fall. NATIONALIST ATTITUDE. PROFOUNDLY DISSATISFIED. LONDON, March 21. Mr. John Redmond (leader of the Irish party), speaking at Liverpool, said that '■ he was profoundly dissatisfied with th. political situation. "The Tories," he remarked, "want the financial chaos regularised before the,-? return to office. I say 'Let them stew in their own juice until we know what we are going to do with the Lords' veto.' " Proceeding, he contended that the whisky duties brought in no revenue. It was quite possible to exempt the small owners in Ireland from the new death duties and stamp duties, and the small Irish breweries from the license taxes. Irish land must be exempted from valuation. Such concessions would not affect the character of the Budget as a great democratic measure. He would be glad to reciprocate the conciliatory tone of Mr. Asquith's speech and consult with the Government regarding the Budget and veto, but the Nationalists intended to stand to their pledges. VETO AND REFORM. MR. HALDANE'S VIEWS. £& ~"" '« ~"' r • r:„'■-'- LONDON, March 21. Mr. R. B. Haidane, addressing the Eighty Club, denied- the rumour of his probable resignation. He said the veto must be taken first, but the Liberals would make a profound mistake if they separated the veto from reform. If the Liberals failed to reconstitute the Lords upon a democratic basis, and the Conservatives did so, then they could repeal the veto resolutions. The Lords' self-reform proposals appeared to contemplate depriving the Crown of the power to create additional peers. Until now this had been the Commons' supreme ultimate safeguard. Mr. Haidane suggested that the Second Onamber should ■ represent great constituencies in order that no one would bo able to seek election unless a man of mark. DRIFTING TO DISASTER. LONDON, March 21. Mr. G. N. Barnes (chairman of the Labour party), in a speech at Torquay, declared that submitting the Budget to the Commons before the Lords finally disposed ;of . the - veto resolutions meant drifting to ; disaster. There was no prospect of, the Liberals obtaining a large majority. '" - REFERENDUM PROPOSED. ~" '■'.." *' ■', ;'." '___\ ' I INSTEAD OF AN ELECTION. j ' '■;."' 7. -X-r.V;-' , LONDON, March 21.' Mr. Percy Alden, (Liberal member for the. Tottenham,division of Middlesex) has organised .an extensively-signed memorial : from- Liberal •- and Labour members y of the House of Commons, urging Mr. Asquith to resort to the referendum in. order to avoid the disorganisation of business . and heavy expense that would .be entailed by another election. "\