FATE OF THE BUDGET

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 563, 19 July 1909, Page 7

FATE OF THE BUDGET

ATTITUDE OF THE LORDS.; •

STATEMENT BY LORD LANSDOWNE. NOT TO BJE DETERRED BY. THREATS. (By Telcitraph.—Prcaa Assoclatlon.-Copyrliht.) (Rec, July 18, 5 p.m.) London, July 17. Lord Lansdowne, speaking at : the Conservative Association's banquet, declared that while ho maintained an attitude of reserve regarding tho fate of tho Budget, ho would, say that the House of Lords "were unlikely to proclaim that they had no responsibility regarding the Finance Bill' and were obliged to swallow it whole without wincing. ■ /•''

Apart from text-book authorities, and looking at tho question from a common-senso standpoint, it was unthinkable that where there were two legislative chambers it should bo left absolutely at tho discretion of ono of them to impose, burdens however monstrous, taxation however inequitable, and a new financial system howevor subversive of society; it might be.

The Lords wore obliged to:consider tho question with on open mind undeterred by threats and vapourings. THE LAND CLAUSES. London, July 16., Sir H. W. Perks (a leading Nonconformist Liberal and big contractor), in an address to his constituents at Louth, Lincolnshire, strenuously denounced tho land clauses of the Budget. The operation of tho now taxes', Sir Robert alleged, would tend to be harmful to ogriculturo.