AGAINST COMPROMISE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 842, 14 June 1910, Page 5

AGAINST COMPROMISE

6 LABOUR PROTEST. TYRANNY OF "FRONT BENCHES." CONFERENCE CHAIRMANSHIP. By Teleeraph-Vress Association-CoityrlEhl London, June 12. The Sunday paper "Observer" (Unionist) reports that Mr. Balfour (Leader of tho Opposition) has replied favourably to' Mr. Asquith, Prime Minister, regarding the proposed conference on tho subject of the House of Lords. The "Observer" adds: "Mr. Asquith deserves full credit for the action already taken, and if tho negotiations are successful it will prove that the new democracy is not impotent for any purpose except party." Speaking at Loughborough, Leicestershire, Mr. Philip Snowden and Mr. Ranisay Macdonald (leading Labour M.P.'s) condemned the conference proposal. Mr. Macdonald denied the right of the front Benches to settle the matter; he reminded his hearers that there were other Benches in the House. NOT BETRAYED. ASSURANCE TO GOVERNMENTS SUPPORTERS. (R«c. June 13, 11.45 p.m.) London, June 13. The newspapers are favourably discussing the proposed conference. . The "Daily Chronicle" (-Liberal) deprecates Mr. Ramsay Macdonald's speech, and says that tho Government's supporters must dismiss the foolish idea which is growing that they have been betrayed. Some papers suggest that the Speaker of the House of Commons (the Right Hon. J. W. Lowther) should act as chairman of the conference, but the majority of the papers urge that no chairman should be appointed. The Opposition understand that Mr. Asquith's invitation is for a free conference, untrammelled with conditions or preliminary restrictions. LIBERAL FINANCES. MUCH BETTER THAN WAS THOUGHT. : (Rec. June 14, 0.40 a.m.) London, June 13. Lobby opinion is that, despite the estimated increase in expenditure 'by ten millions, the Government is not likely to show a Budget deficit. This unexpected result is duo to the 1909-10 expenditure being over-estimated, it being only ,£157,944,011, instead of .£104,990,000, which the new taxation was devised to produce.