BRITISH POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13596, 3 December 1909, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE DEFEAT OF THE BUDGET.

DETAILS OF THE DIVISION

United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December I. During his speech in the Budget debate, Lord Curzon said, "I am not sure that we could count upon the people getting six or eight months' experience of the Budcet. Perhaps the Government is afraid of making a six months' trial, and then having a spring election come on them." Tho Budget, in Lord Curzon's opinion, created machinery, and nothing would be harder than to disestablish this bureaucracy if the Lords surrendered. Nor would he be committed to a Constitution wherein one Chamber could override the other without an appeal to the people. He went further. The House had no right to yield the principle that any measure, however socialistic and subversive, must be passed if cramped within a finance Bill. The reason why no finance Bill had been rejected since 1800 was that no Chancellor had submitted a Bill directly challenging their prerogatives. "Some of us would warmly welcome a constitutional struggle, as we hope that out of the struggle would emerge a reformed House of Lords." Lord Curzon said that it might but bo at this election, but he hoped it somo subsequent one the country would give an unmistakable mandate that tho second Chamber was an essential part of the Constitution, and should continue, independent, fearless, and strong. Lord Courtney warned tho House that the issue of the election would be wider than they imagined. Their present action was possibly of Imperial significance. If the House forced tho adoption of a referendum on a question of finance, they would introduce an unworkable scheme. Lord Goschen declared that there was nothing more injurious to credit than uncertainty regarding the future. The Budget established extravagant machinery to deal with objects alien to the financial needs of the year. He, in voting for the amendment, occupied in no wise an inconsistent position for a free trader. Lord Stanmore, as a free trades-, disassociated himself from Lord Cromer's abstention policy. The figures of the division were received with a slight Unionist cheer, and counter efeeers and some faint hisses from the members of the House of Common- seated in the galleries. An attempted demonstration outside tho House of Lords proved a fiasco. The majority included 260 Conservatives, 77 Unionists, 12 Liberals, and the Bishop of Lincoln. The minority was made up of 66 Liberals, 2 Unionists, 3 Conservatives, the Archbishop of York, and the Bishops of Birmingham, Chester, and St. Asaph. The Hon. R. R. Cherry, M.P., Attor-ney-General for Ireland, succeeds th© late Lord FitzGibbon as Lord Justice of Appeal in Ireland.

The .acceptance of the judgeship by Mr pherry will render vacant tho Exchange Division of Liverpool. At tho General Election Mr Cherry won tho seat from the previous Conservative member, Mr C. McArthur, by a majority of 121.